Coordinating fund transfers between a gaming device and a gaming establishment account utilizing a mobile device

ABSTRACT

A system that utilizes a mobile device and a funding instrument associated with an external funding source to first transfer funds from the external funding source to a gaming establishment account and then, responsive to a completion of the first transfer, automatically transfer funds from the gaming establishment account to an electronic gaming machine and/or a gaming table.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of, claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. Pat. Application No. 17/125,414, filed on Dec. 17, 2020,the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

In various embodiments, the systems and methods of the presentdisclosure utilize a mobile device and a funding instrument associatedwith an external funding source to first transfer funds from theexternal funding source to a gaming establishment account and then,responsive to a completion of the first transfer, automatically transferfunds from the gaming establishment account to an electronic gamingmachine or a gaming table component associated with a gaming table.

Electronic gaming machines and gaming tables may enable a player to playa game wherein the player may be required to place a wager.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a systemincluding a processor, and a memory device that stores a plurality ofinstructions. When executed by the processor responsive to a receipt ofdata associated with a request to access a first amount of fundsassociated with a funding instrument and responsive to an approval ofthe request, the instructions cause the processor to communicate fundtransfer data to a component of a gaming establishment fund managementsystem, wherein the communication of the fund transfer data results in amodification of a gaming establishment account based on the first amountof funds. When executed by the processor responsive to a receipt of dataassociated with a request to access a first amount of funds associatedwith a funding instrument and responsive to an approval of the request,the instructions also cause the processor to communicate fundingtransfer complete event data that results in an automatic communicationof a request to a gaming device to transfer a second amount of fundsfrom the gaming establishment account to the gaming device.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a systemincluding a processor, and a memory device that stores a plurality ofinstructions. When executed by the processor responsive to an approvalof a request to access a first amount of funds from a first externalsource associated with a first funding instrument, the instructionscause the processor to modify a gaming establishment account based onthe first amount of funds, and automatically transfer a second amount offunds from the gaming establishment account to a gaming device. Whenexecuted by the processor responsive to an approval of a request toaccess the first amount of funds from a second external sourceassociated with a second, different funding instrument, the instructionscause the processor to modify the gaming establishment account based onthe first amount of funds, and communicate funding transfer completeevent data to a component of a gaming establishment fund managementsystem.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method ofoperating a system. Responsive to a receipt of data associated with arequest to access a first amount of funds associated with a fundinginstrument and responsive to an approval of the request, the methodincludes communicating, by a processor, fund transfer data to acomponent of a gaming establishment fund management system, wherein thecommunication of the fund transfer data results in a modification of agaming establishment account based on the first amount of funds.Additionally, responsive to a receipt of data associated with a requestto access a first amount of funds associated with a funding instrumentand responsive to an approval of the request, the method includescommunicating, by the processor, funding transfer complete event datathat results in an automatic communication of a request to a gamingdevice to transfer a second amount of funds from the gamingestablishment account to the gaming device.

Additional features are described herein, and will be apparent from thefollowing Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example configuration of the architecture of a plurality ofdifferent components of the system of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A, and 2B are example graphical user interfaces displayed inconnection with transferring funds accessible by a funding instrument toa gaming establishment account and then to an electronic gaming machine.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are flow charts of example processes for operatinga system which utilize a mobile device and a funding instrument totransfer funds accessible by the funding instrument to a gamingestablishment account and then to a gaming device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an electronicconfiguration of an example gaming table component associated with agaming table.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a gaming table of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an electronicconfiguration of an example electronic gaming machine.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views of example alternative embodimentsof an example electronic gaming machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In various embodiments, the system of the present disclosure enables auser to utilize an interface, such as a mobile device application, tofacilitate a first transfer of an amount of funds from an externalfunding source to a gaming establishment account using a fundinginstrument associated with the external funding source. In theseembodiments, a determined completion of the first transfer is followedby an automatic transfer of part or all of such an amount of funds fromthe gaming establishment account to a gaming device, such as anelectronic gaming machine (“EGM”) or a gaming table component associatedwith a gaming table.

In certain embodiments, the system enables a user to employ a mobiledevice application being executed on a mobile device (or other suitableinterface, such as a service window displayed by a gaming device) tocoordinate the accessing of an amount of funds employing a user selectedfunding instrument, such as a credit card. In such embodiments,responsive to the funds being transferred to a gaming establishmentaccount in association with the selected funding instrument, one or morecomponents of the system cause the amount of funds to then betransferred to a gaming device independent of any user input to causesuch a transfer to the gaming device. That is, responsive to one or morecomponents of the system determining an occurrence of an event based onthe completion of funds transferred to a gaming establishment account inassociation with a funding instrument, such components cause part or allof the amount of such funds to automatically be transferred to a gamingdevice to be available to fund one or more activities of the gamingdevice.

More specifically, since certain jurisdictional regulations prevent thedirect funding of a gaming device with certain funding instruments, butpermit the funding of a gaming establishment account with such fundinginstruments, the system of the present disclosure enables a user to addfunds to a gaming establishment account utilizing such fundinginstruments wherein the system operates to automatically fund a gamingdevice following the funds being transferred to the gaming establishmentaccount. That is, in certain embodiments, rather than directly funding agaming device with the use of a designated funding instrument, such as acredit card, the system employs a multi-step process wherein funds fromthe designated funding instrument are first deposited into a gamingestablishment account (in compliance with certain jurisdictionalregulations) and then, following one or more components of the systemdetermining that a funding transfer complete event occurred, the fundsare transferred from the gaming establishment account to a gaming device(also in compliance with certain jurisdictional regulations).

For example, since certain jurisdictions prevent the direct wagering atan EGM through the use of a credit card (and thus prohibit credit cardreaders being installed on EGMs) but permit the user to fund a cashlesswagering account through the use of a credit card, to provide users amore seamless gaming experience, the system of the present disclosureenables a user to employ a mobile device application (or other suitableuser interface) to facilitate a deposit of an amount of funds in acashless wagering account through the use of a credit card. Following acompletion of that first transfer and without further interrupting theuser’s gaming experience, the system undertakes a second transfer ofpart or all of that amount of funds from the cashless wagering accountto an EGM. Such a configuration avoids the relatively complex andinconvenient requirement of a user affirmatively engaging in multipleactions at different points in time to fund a gaming session therebysaving the user time and providing continuity in the user’s gamingexperience. Moreover, since, in certain instances, a user participatingin a gaming session at a gaming device must terminate the gaming sessionto transfer additional funds from a cashless wagering account to thegaming device (i.e., following a transfer of funds into a cashlesswagering account using a credit card, the balance of the cashlesswagering account displayed by an interface of the gaming device, such asa service window, is not immediately updated and the user needs to makeone or more inputs to end their gaming session and then start a newgaming session for the displayed balance to synchronize with that of thecashless wagering system), the system of the present disclosure operatesindependent of such user inputs to prevent the user from having toprematurely end a gaming session to obtain additional funds.

In another example, the system enables a user at a gaming table to,using a mobile device application being executed on a mobile device (orother suitable user interface) to facilitate a deposit of an amount offunds in a cashless wagering account through the use of a credit card.Following a completion of that first transfer and without furtherinterrupting the user’s gaming experience, the system undertakes asecond transfer of part or all of that amount of funds from the cashlesswagering account to a gaming table component associated with a gamingtable (wherein such funds are then exchanged for gaming chips to beplayed at the gaming table). In this example, rather than a user havingto visit an automated teller machine to obtain cash using a fundinginstrument (e.g., a cash advance from a credit card) and then bring thecash to a gaming table to be exchanged for gaming chips and/or the userhaving to visit a gaming establishment cage or desk to procure, using afunding instrument, an amount of gaming chips provided by the gamingestablishment cage (which are then brought to a gaming table), thesystem of this example enables a user to utilize a mobile device tocoordinate the transfer of funds associated with the funding instrument,such as a credit card, to a gaming establishment account maintained forthat user and then from the gaming establishment account to a gamingtable component (e.g., a dealer workstation at the gaming table, a fundtransfer kiosk at the gaming table, or a mobile workstation of a gamingestablishment staff member assigned to service the gaming table). Inthis example, following the completion of the transfer of the amount offunds (obtained using the funding instrument) from the gamingestablishment account maintained for that user to the gaming tablecomponent, the gaming establishment personnel associated with the gamingtable component, such as the dealer or the gaming establishment staffmember, issues an amount of gaming chips (corresponding to thetransferred amount of funds) to the user to be wagered at the gamingtable. Such a configuration saves the user time in not having to visitan automated teller machine and/or a gaming establishment cage to accessfunds using a funding instrument which is prohibited from certain usesand permitted in other uses. Moreover, such a configuration of utilizinga mobile device application to initiate the transfer of an amount offunds from a funding instrument and automatically coordinating thetransfer of such funds to a gaming device provides a relatively safergaming establishment environment (e.g., minimizing users and/or gamingestablishment personnel having to carry large sums of cash) compared toboth cash-based gaming and ticket voucher-based gaming.

It should be appreciated that since certain jurisdictional regulationsprevent the funding of a gaming device with certain funding instrumentsbut permit the funding of a gaming device with other fundinginstruments, in certain embodiments, the system of the presentdisclosure operates differently dependent on the type of fundinginstrument employed by the user. In these embodiments, if one or morecomponents of the system determine that the user is attempting to accessfunds using a first type of funding instrument, such as a debit card,then following a determination that funds from this first type offunding instrument may be transferred to a gaming device, suchcomponents employ a first mode of operation to transfer funds using thefunding instrument to a gaming establishment account and then to thegaming device without such components otherwise having to monitor for acompletion of the transfer of funds to the gaming establishment account.On the other hand, if one or more components of the system determinethat the user is attempting to access funds using a second, differenttype of funding instrument, such as a credit card, then following adetermination that funds from this second type of funding instrument maynot be directly transferred to a gaming device, such components employ asecond, different mode of operation to first transfer funds using thefunding instrument to a gaming establishment account and then, followinga determination of an occurrence of a funding transfer complete event,coordinate, without interrupting the user, the transfer of part or allof such funds in the gaming establishment account to a gaming device. Assuch, one or more components of the system of the present disclosureadjust how they operate in transferring funds to a gaming device basedon an identification of a type of funding instrument employed by theuser to access such funds. Such a configuration increases operationalefficiencies of the components of the system by executing differenttasks at different points in time responsive to the particular fundinginstrument selected by the user.

System Accounts

In various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to a gamingestablishment fund management system including various components orsub-systems that are each associated with or otherwise maintain one ormore electronic or virtual accounts. In these embodiments, the variousaccounts maintained for a user collectively form a resort or enterpriseaccount (i.e., a gaming establishment fund management account) for theuser. That is, the collection of cashless wagering accounts (e.g.cashless gaming establishment wagering wallets, cashless sports wageringwallets and/or cashless mobile wagering wallets) and gamingestablishment retail accounts (e.g., gaming establishment retailwallets) associated with or otherwise maintained for a user, such as aplayer and/or retail patron, collectively form a resort or enterpriseaccount (i.e., an integrated resort or gaming establishment fundmanagement wallet) that the user may access to transfer funds and/orview balance information amongst the various accounts associated with orotherwise maintained for the user.

In various embodiments, the gaming establishment fund management systemincludes or is otherwise associated with one or more cashless wageringsystems. Each cashless wagering system is associated with or otherwisemaintain one or more cashless wagering accounts. In certain embodiments,the gaming establishment fund management system includes a firstcashless wagering system that maintains a first cashless wageringaccount. In these embodiments, a user, such as a player of an EGM,utilizes a mobile device application running on a mobile device and/or aphysical instrument (e.g., a smart card or a user issued magneticstriped card which the user utilizes via inserting the card into aplayer tracking unit associated with the EGM) to facilitate theelectronic transfer of any funds between this first cashless wageringaccount and a gaming device, such as a gaming table component (e.g., adealer workstation at the gaming table, a fund transfer kiosk at thegaming table, or a mobile workstation of a gaming establishment staffmember assigned to service the gaming table) associated with a gamingtable and/or an EGM (including, but not limited to, a slot machine, avideo poker machine, a video lottery terminal, a terminal associatedwith an electronic table game, a terminal associated with a live tablegame, a video keno machine, a video bingo machine located on a casinofloor and/or a sports betting terminal (that offers wagering games andsports betting opportunities)). For example, as seen in FIG. 1 , thegaming establishment fund management system includes a first cashlesswagering system (not shown) that maintains a Cashless Wagering Wallet104 (e.g., a first cashless wagering account) which is in communicationwith the resort wallet 102. In this example, to facilitate the transferof funds from this cashless wagering account to a credit balance of anEGM 106 and/or a gaming table component associated with a gaming table108 operating with a gaming establishment table system (not shown), thesystem utilizes a mobile device 110 running a mobile device applicationthat interfaces with one or more other components of the gamingestablishment fund management system to enable a user, such as a playerof the EGM or a player at the gaming table, access to this firstcashless wagering account.

In certain embodiments, the gaming establishment fund management systemadditionally or alternatively includes or is otherwise associated with asecond cashless wagering system that maintains a second cashlesswagering account. In these embodiments, funds associated with the secondcashless wagering account are utilized to place one or more sportingevent wagers and/or wagers placed remote from an EGM and a gaming table.In such embodiments, a user utilizes a mobile device application runningon a mobile device and/or a physical instrument (e.g., a smart card or auser issued magnetic striped card which the user utilizes via insertingthe card into a kiosk) to facilitate the electronic transfer of anyfunds between this second cashless wagering account and a credit balanceaccessible to wager on sporting events and/or games of chance (or gamesof skill) remote from an EGM and a gaming table. For example, as seen inFIG. 1 , the gaming establishment fund management system includes asecond cashless wagering system (not shown) that maintains a SportsWagering Wallet 112 (e.g., a second cashless wagering account) which isin communication with the resort wallet 102. In this example, tofacilitate the transfer of funds from this cashless wagering account toa credit balance associated with a sporting event wagering system (notshown) and/or a remote wagering system (not shown) to enable theplacement of one or more wagers on one or more sporting events and/orone or more games of chance (or games of skill), the system utilizes amobile device 110 running a mobile device application that interfaceswith one or more other components of the gaming establishment fundmanagement system to enable a user, such as a user remote from thegaming establishment, access to this second cashless wagering account.

In various embodiments, in addition to or an alternative of maintainingone or more cashless wagering accounts via one or more cashless wageringsystems, the gaming establishment fund management system includes or isotherwise associated with one or more gaming establishment retail walletsystems that each maintain one or more gaming establishment retailaccounts. Such a gaming establishment retail account (e.g., a gamingestablishment retail wallet) of a gaming establishment retail walletsystem integrates with various retail point-of-sale systems throughoutthe gaming establishment (or located remote from the gamingestablishment, but otherwise associated with the gaming establishment)to enable users to purchase goods and/or services via the user’s gamingestablishment retail account. For example, as seen in FIG. 1 , thegaming establishment fund management system includes a gamingestablishment retail wallet system (not shown) that maintains a RetailWallet 114 (e.g., a gaming establishment retail account) which is incommunication with the resort wallet 102. In this example, to facilitatethe transfer of funds from this gaming establishment retail account toan account associated with a retailer to purchase goods and/or servicesfrom the retailer, the system utilizes a retail wallet identity, such asa mobile device 110 running a mobile device application that interfaceswith a point-of-sale terminal 116 of a retail point-of-sale system 118of the retailer, and one or more components of the gaming establishmentfund management system to enable a user access to this gamingestablishment retail account. In other embodiments, the gamingestablishment fund management system does not maintain a separate gamingestablishment retail account, but rather utilizes the gamingestablishment retail wallet system as a transaction coordinator toaccount for any transactions to purchase goods and/or services from aretailer.

It should be appreciated that in various embodiments, a gamingestablishment retail account is a retail account associated with a userhaving a balance or a pre-paid access account which, per currentregulations from the U.S. Treasury Department Financial CrimesEnforcement Network (“FinCEN”), cannot be convertible to cash and canonly be used for the purchase of goods and/or services. In theseembodiments, such a gaming establishment retail account integrates withvarious retail point-of-sale systems of various retail establishmentsthroughout or otherwise associated with a gaming establishment to enableusers to purchase goods and/or services via the user’s gamingestablishment retail account. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, basedon one or more jurisdictional regulations, an amount of funds depositedin a gaming establishment retail account may be used with various retailpoint-of-sale systems throughout the gaming establishment (or remotefrom, but otherwise associated with the gaming establishment) to enableusers to purchase goods and/or services, such funds deposited in thegaming establishment retail account cannot be converted to cash orcheck. In certain other embodiments, based on one or more differentjurisdictional regulations, an amount of funds deposited in a gamingestablishment retail account may be used with various retailpoint-of-sale systems throughout the gaming establishment (or remotefrom, but otherwise associated with the gaming establishment) to enableusers to purchase goods and/or services wherein such funds deposited inthe gaming establishment retail account may be converted to cash orcheck.

In certain embodiments, the gaming establishment fund management systemis in communication with one or more external funding sources whichmaintain one or more external accounts for the user. For example, asseen in FIG. 1 , the gaming establishment fund management system thatmaintains the resort wallet 102 (as well as the mobile device 110running a mobile device application) is in communication with anexternal funding system 120 which is in communication with a network ofone or more banks or other financial institutions (i.e., the bankingnetworks 122) which operate to electronically transfer funds from theuser’s accounts maintained at such banks or financial institutions(which are associated with one or more funding instruments) to one ormore of the accounts maintained by the gaming establishment fundmanagement system. In certain embodiments, such external accountsinclude, but are not limited to, one or more checking accountsmaintained by one or more financial institutions (e.g., one or morebanks and/or credit unions), one or more savings accounts maintained byone or more financial institutions, one or more financial institutionaccounts, such as a brokerage account, maintained by one or morefinancial institutions, one or more credit card accounts maintained byone or more financial institutions, one or more debit card accountsmaintained by one or more financial institutions, one or more pre-paiddebit card accounts maintained by one or more financial institutions,one or more gift card accounts maintained by one or more financialinstitutions, and/or one or more third-party maintained accounts (e.g.,one or more PayPalⓇ accounts or VenmoⓇ accounts). It should beappreciated that while illustrated as the gaming establishment fundmanagement system being in communication with one or more externalfunding sources, in different embodiments, any component or sub-systemdescribed herein can be in communication with one or more externalfunding sources. In different embodiments, the system utilizes a mobiledevice running a mobile device application, a kiosk, an EGM, a servicewindow displayed by a gaming device (e.g., a remote host controlledservice window displayed by an EGM) , a component of a gamingestablishment patron management system, such as a player tracking unit,and/or a gaming establishment interface to employ zero, one or moreexternal funding mobile device application interfaces to facilitate thetransfer of funds from a third-party account.

In certain embodiments, the gaming establishment fund management systemis in communication with one or more gaming establishment patronmanagement systems. For example, as seen in FIG. 1 , the gamingestablishment fund management system (i.e., resort wallet 104) is incommunication with one or more gaming establishment patron managementsystems (i.e., the patron management system 124) that assists in thecreation of one or more accounts as well as monitor activities atvarious points of contact associated with a gaming establishment andprovides rewards, such as redeemable player tracking points, inassociation with such activities. It should be appreciated that anycomponent or sub-system of the present disclosure can be incommunication with one or more gaming establishment patron managementsystems.

In certain embodiments (not shown), the gaming establishment fundmanagement system is in communication with one or more credit systems.Such credit systems operate to issue the user one or more lines ofcredit or markers. In certain embodiments (not shown), the gamingestablishment fund management system is also in communication with oneor more credit reporting / credit risk systems which monitor and reporton various accounts associated with the user. These credit reporting andrisk systems monitor and report on a credit rating and status of one ormore accounts maintained for the user at various funding sources, suchas various financial institutions. It should be appreciated anycomponent or sub-system described herein can be in communication withone or more credit systems and/or one or more credit reporting / creditrisk systems.

In certain embodiments, the system utilizes one mobile deviceapplication to interact with the different components of the gamingestablishment fund management system to access funds maintained in thedifferent gaming establishment accounts associated with the user and/orto access funds via one or more funding instruments associated with oneor more external accounts. For example, utilizing the same mobileapplication, a mobile device interacts with both the first cashlesswagering system of the gaming establishment fund management system andthe external funding system in communication with the gamingestablishment fund management system. In certain embodiments, the systemutilizes multiple mobile device applications to interact with thedifferent components of the gaming establishment fund management systemto access funds maintained in the different gaming establishmentaccounts associated with the user and/or to access funds via one or morefunding instruments associated with one or more external accounts. Inthese embodiments, the mobile device application utilizes zero, one ormore application programming interfaces, such as a funding applicationprogramming interface associated with an external funding source, toexchange data with the different systems (gaming establishment systemsand/or external, non-gaming establishment systems) to facilitate zero,one or more actions of the present disclosure.

In certain embodiments, the mobile device applications include alocation based digital wallet enabled application, such as aPassbook-enabled or Wallet-enabled application, which is accessible whenthe user enters a gaming establishment. In certain of such embodiments,the mobile device applications are downloaded to the mobile device froman application store. In certain of such embodiments, the mobile deviceapplications are downloaded to the mobile device from one or morewebsites affiliated with the gaming establishment (which are accessibledirectly by the user and/or by a link opened when the user scans a QRcode).

It should be appreciated that in different embodiments, in addition toor alternatively from utilizing a mobile device running a mobile deviceapplication to access funds associated with different gamingestablishment accounts and/or to access funds via one or more fundinginstruments associated with one or more external accounts, the systemutilizes a kiosk, an EGM, a service window displayed by an EGM (e.g., aremote host controlled service window), a display device/input deviceassociated with a seat-level gaming table component, a displaydevice/input device associated with a table-level gaming tablecomponent, a display device/input device associated with a mobile gamingtable component, a component of a gaming establishment patron managementsystem, such as a player tracking unit, and/or a gaming establishmentinterface, such as a casino desk, to access the funds associated withsuch gaming establishment accounts and/or to access funds via one ormore funding instruments associated with one or more external accounts.It should be further appreciated that while illustrated in FIG. 1 asusing a mobile device running a mobile device application to accessfunds associated with different gaming establishment accounts (e.g., acashless wagering account and a gaming establishment retail account)and/or to access funds via one or more funding instruments associatedwith one or more external accounts, a physical instrument, such as asmart card or a user issued magnetic striped card may additionally oralternatively be utilized to enable a user access to such gamingestablishment accounts and/or to access funds via one or more fundinginstruments associated with one or more external accounts.

Coordinated Transfer of Funds From an External Account to a GamingEstablishment Account Prior to Transfer to a Gaming Device

In various embodiments, the system enables a user to employ a mobiledevice application being executed on a mobile device (or other suitableinterface, such as a service window displayed by a gaming device) tocoordinate the accessing of an amount of funds employing a user selectedfunding instrument, such as a credit card. In such embodiments,responsive to the funds being transferred to a gaming establishmentaccount in association with the selected funding instrument, one or morecomponents of the system cause the amount of funds to then betransferred to a gaming device independent of any user input to causesuch a transfer to the gaming device. That is, responsive to one or morecomponents of the system determining an occurrence of an event based onthe completion of funds transferred to a gaming establishment account inassociation with a funding instrument, such components cause part or allof the amount of such funds to automatically be transferred to a gamingdevice (without requiring any further input from the user) to beavailable to fund one or more activities of the gaming device.

In certain embodiments, prior to enabling the transfer of funds using afunding instrument to a gaming device (e.g., an EGM or a gaming tablecomponent) via first funding a gaming establishment account with anamount of funds and then funding the gaming device with part or all ofthe amount of funds, the system requires the user to enroll or otherwiseopt-into such a funding feature. In one such embodiment, the systemrequires the user to make, via an interface (e.g., a mobile deviceapplication and/or a service window), one or more inputs, such as inputsto modify a user setting, to enroll in this funding feature for eachtransaction. In another such embodiment, the system requires the user tomake, via an interface, one or more inputs, such as inputs to modify auser setting, to enroll in this funding feature for a plurality oftransactions. In these embodiments, following the determination of anoccurrence of a funding transfer complete event, the system determinesif the user has enrolled in or otherwise approved to participate in sucha feature (wherein the completion of the transfer of funds from thegaming establishment account to the gaming device does not occur withoutthe user first enrolling in such a feature).

In various embodiments where the gaming device includes an EGM, thesystem of the present disclosure enables a user, such as an identifiedplayer at an EGM, to make one or more inputs via a mobile deviceexecuting a mobile device application (or via another suitableinterface, such as a service window displayed by the EGM) to cause adeposit of an amount of funds via a funding instrument into a gamingestablishment account. In these embodiments, following a confirmedcompletion of this transfer, the mobile device application (or othercomponent of the system) automatically initiates a transfer of fundsfrom the gaming establishment account to a credit balance of an EGM.Once an amount of funds is transferred to the credit balance of the EGM,the amount of funds is available for wagering on one or more plays ofone or more games at the EGM.

In certain embodiments, if a user wants to employ a funding instrument,such as a credit card, to transfer funds to an EGM (at which the userhas a current gaming session at) utilizing a mobile device application,then following the user associating the funding instrument with themobile device application (e.g., following a user scanning or otherwisekeying in a credit card account number into the mobile deviceapplication), the user pairs or links their mobile device with the EGM.

Following the pairing between the mobile device and the EGM (or acomponent of the EGM, such as a slot machine interface board (“SMIB”) orother component of a gaming establishment management system supported bythe EGM), the system enables the user to utilize a mobile deviceapplication being executed by the mobile device to view informationabout one or more funding instruments available to the user and/or oneor more gaming establishment accounts maintained in association withthat user. In addition to enabling the user to view, via the mobiledevice application of the paired mobile device, information about one ormore funding instruments and/or one or more gaming establishmentaccounts maintained in association with that user, the system enablesthe user to initiate a transfer of an amount of funds using such fundinginstruments. That is, the system enables the user to attempt to utilizea funding instrument, such as a credit card associated with a creditcard account maintained by a financial institution, accessed inassociation with a mobile device application to first transfer an amountof funds to a gaming establishment account associated with the user,such as the user’s cashless wagering account (wherein after such atransfer and independent of any additional inputs by the user, themobile device application operates with the EGM to transfer part or allof the amount of funds to a credit balance of the EGM). In theseembodiments, interfacing with the mobile device application, the systemenables the player to make one or more inputs regarding the requestedtransfer of funds using the funding instrument, such as, but not limitedto, one or more inputs to indicate an amount of funds to be accessedusing the funding instrument, one or more inputs to approve theindicated amount of funds to be accessed using the funding instrument,and/or one or more inputs to confirm the accessing of the amount offunds using the funding instrument. For example, as seen in FIG. 2A, amobile device application 220 of a mobile device 210 displays a message230 a to a user that they have an account balance of $0 in theircashless wagering account and prompting the user to initiate a transferof funds to the EGM the mobile device is currently paired with using thecredit card on file with the gaming establishment fund management system(or the credit card on file with a hotel associated with the gamingestablishment where the user is currently staying (not shown)).

It should be appreciated that certain jurisdictional regulations and/orgaming establishment policies require the user to approve theirtransaction to access the funds using the funding instrument. In onesuch embodiment, the user acknowledges the approval of the transfer byentering a personal identification number (“PIN”) via the mobile deviceapplication, providing a signature and/or presenting a biometricidentifier to the mobile device. In another embodiment, the useracknowledges the approval of the transfer by entering a PIN, providing asignature and/or presenting a biometric identifier to the EGM or aperipheral device associated with the EGM, such as a display device orinput device associated with a SMIB in communication with the EGM.

In these embodiments, following receipt of the user inputted dataassociated with the determined amount of funds to be transferred usingthe funding instrument and a confirmation from the user that theyapprove of the transaction, the mobile device application (and/or theEGM or a component of the EGM, such as the SMIB) communicates one ormore messages to the external funding system to request a transfer ofthe determined amount of funds using the employed funding instrument.Upon receiving the messages from the mobile device application (and/orthe EGM or the component of the EGM, such as the SMIB) and verifying therequest, the external funding system communicates one or more messagesto one or more components of a banking network to request a transfer ofthe determined amount of funds using the employed funding instrument.For example, following the external funding system receiving, from themobile device and via one or more funding application programminginterfaces called by the mobile device application, data associated witha request to transfer an amount of funds from an external accountassociated with a credit card, the external funding system communicates,to one or more servers of a financial institution associated with theexternal account and via one or more funding application programminginterfaces, data associated with the request to transfer an amount offunds from the external account.

In certain embodiments, if one or more components of the banking networkdetermine not to authorize the transfer of an amount of funds from theexternal account (e.g., the credit card to be charged has an outstandingbalance at a maximum credit limit), upon receiving one or more messagesfrom such components of the banking network regarding the denial of thetransfer, the external funding system communicates a transfer denial tothe mobile device application (and/or the EGM or a component of theEGM). In certain embodiments, following the denial, one or more displaydevices associated with the mobile device (and/or the EGM or a componentof the EGM) display one or more messages regarding the failed transferof funds from the external account.

On the other hand, if one or more components of the banking networkdetermine to authorize the transfer of an amount of funds from theexternal account, upon receiving one or more messages from suchcomponents of the banking network regarding the approval of thetransfer, the external funding system communicates an authorization ofthe requested amount of funds to the gaming establishment fundmanagement system. Upon receiving the authorization, the gamingestablishment fund management system updates a balance of a gamingestablishment account by the requested amount of funds transferred usingthe funding instrument. In certain embodiments, in association with thetransfer, the system communicates a transfer of funds confirmation,wherein one or more display devices associated with the mobile device(and/or the EGM or a component of the EGM) display a confirmation of thetransfer of the amount of funds using the funding instrument to thegaming establishment account.

In certain embodiments, following the completion of the transfer of theamount of funds using the funding instrument to the gaming establishmentaccount, such as a cashless wagering account associated with a user, thesystem proceeds with automatically utilizing the mobile deviceapplication to facilitate a further transfer of an amount of funds fromthe gaming establishment account to the EGM. That is, upon adetermination, by the mobile device application or another component ofthe gaming establishment fund management system, that a transfer offunds is completed from an external account using the user’s selectedfunding instrument, the mobile device application operates to trigger atransfer of funds of an equal amount (or a greater amount or lesseramount) to a credit balance of the EGM which the user has an activegaming session at. In other words, upon the mobile device application(or other suitable component, such as a server running a service windowdisplayed by the EGM) determining that a funding transfer complete eventoccurred in association with the requested transfer of the amount offunds using the funding instrument, the mobile device application (orother suitable component) operates to facilitate an addition movement ofsuch funds independent of any additional user inputs to initiate suchfurther fund movement.

In certain embodiments, following the determination to proceed with anamount of funds to be automatically transferred from the gamingestablishment account, such as the cashless wagering account, to theEGM, the mobile device application communicates, via a wirelesscommunication protocol (including, but not limited to: Bluetooth™,Bluetooth™ Low Energy (“BLE”), one or more cellular communicationstandards (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE), one or more Wi-Fi compatiblestandards, and one or more short range communication protocols (e.g., anear field communication (“NFC”) protocol), data associated with thedetermined amount of funds to be transferred from the gamingestablishment account to the EGM. For example, where the transfer offunds is from a cashless wagering account, following the receipt of fundtransfer data from the mobile device, the EGM (or a component of theEGM, such as a SMIB and/or the mobile device application) proceeds withoperating with a cashless wagering system to log the user into acashless wagering account associated with the user (if necessary) andrequest the determined amount of funds to be transferred from thecashless wagering account to the EGM.

Following the mobile device application interacting with the EGM tofacilitate the EGM requesting the determined amount of funds, thecomponent of the gaming establishment fund management system, such asthe cashless wagering system, determines whether to authorize thetransfer of the determined amount of funds. If the component of thegaming establishment fund management system determines not to authorizethe determined amount of funds, the component of the gamingestablishment fund management system communicates a denial to the EGMand/or the mobile device application, wherein the EGM and/or mobiledevice application display a denial of funds transfer to the user.

On the other hand, if the component of the gaming establishment fundmanagement system determines to authorize the determined amount offunds, the component of the gaming establishment fund management systemupdates the gaming establishment account associated with the user andcommunicates an authorization to the EGM. For example, when funds arebeing transferred from a cashless wagering account to the EGM, thecashless wagering system reduces a balance of the cashless wageringaccount by the reduced amount of funds. The EGM proceeds with updating acredit balance of the EGM to account for the determined amount of funds.In certain embodiments, the EGM further proceeds with communicating atransfer of funds confirmation to the mobile device, wherein the mobiledevice application displays a confirmation of the transfer of the amountof funds and/or the updated credit balance of the EGM. Such atransferred amount of funds is then available for wagering by the userat the EGM. For example, as seen in FIG. 2B, following the mobile deviceapplication determining that the transfer to the user’s cashlesswagering account of funds associated with the user selected fundinginstrument is complete and the mobile device application automaticallycoordinating the transfer of part or all of such funds from the user’scashless wagering account to the EGM where the user currently has agaming session, the mobile device application 220 of the mobile device210 displays a message 230 b to the user that the transfer is completeand $100 from the credit card on file with the gaming establishment fundmanagement system has been transferred to the EGM where the usercurrently has a gaming session. As also seen in FIG. 2B, since the fundsaccessed from the user’s credit card were first transferred to theuser’s cashless wagering account and then automatically transferred,responsive to commands from the mobile device application, from theuser’s cashless wagering account to the EGM, the message displayed tothe user reflects that the user’s cashless wagering account remains at$0.

Accordingly, as seen in FIG. 3A (which illustrates an example of thedescribed interactions between the mobile device application, the EGM(and/or a component of the EGM, such as a SMIB), the gamingestablishment fund management system, the external funding system andthe banking network), certain embodiments of obtaining funds from anexternal account associated with a funding instrument for use at an EGMvia a mobile device application involve a user perceived one-stepprocess wherein a user’s interaction with a mobile device applicationappears to be limited to the user requesting such funds. However, asseen in this example, following the user’s request, the components ofthe system operate in a multiple step process to first transfer therequested funds to a gaming establishment account (i.e., a wageringaccount) maintained by a component of a gaming establishment fundmanagement system (i.e., a cashless wagering system) and then, followinga determination that this first transfer is complete, the mobile deviceapplication automatically proceeds to attempt to facilitate a transferof such funds to an EGM. Such a configuration complies with certainjurisdictional regulations that prevent the direct funding of an EGMwith certain funding instruments, but permit the funding of a gamingestablishment account with such funding instruments by enabling the userto fund the EGM credit balance via adding funds to a gamingestablishment account utilizing such funding instruments followed bysuch funds being transferred to the EGM credit balance. As such, toprovide users a more seamless gaming experience without burdening theusers with having to coordinate multiple transactions at multiple pointsin time, the system of these embodiments enables a user to employ amobile device application (or other suitable user interface) tofacilitate a deposit of an amount of funds in a gaming establishmentaccount through the use of a funding instrument and then coordinates thetransfer of part or all of that amount of funds from the gamingestablishment account to an EGM without further interrupting the user’sgaming experience.

In various other embodiments where the gaming device includes a gamingtable component associated with a gaming table, the system of thepresent disclosure enables a user, such as an identified player at thegaming table, to make one or more inputs via a mobile device executing amobile device application (or via another suitable interface, such as aservice window displayed by the gaming table component) to cause adeposit of an amount of funds associated with an external accountaccessible via a funding instrument into a gaming establishment account.In these embodiments, wherein following a confirmed completion of thistransfer, the mobile device application (or other component of thesystem) automatically initiates a transfer of funds from the gamingestablishment account to a gaming table component associated with agaming table. Once an amount of funds is transferred to the gaming tablecomponent, gaming establishment personnel issue the player at the gamingtable an amount of gaming chips (corresponding to the amount oftransferred funds) for wagering on one or more plays of one or moregames at the gaming table.

In one embodiment, the gaming table is an intelligent gaming table whichenables one or more users to play one or more suitable games by placingone or more wagers utilizing gaming chips. In this embodiment, thegaming table component is part of (or otherwise associated with) theintelligent gaming table and includes zero, one or more input devicesand zero, one or more display devices (to display information to theuser and/or gaming establishment personnel regarding the electronictransfer of funds to and from the gaming table component). In certainembodiments, the gaming table component additionally includes acommunication interface (such as a wireless communication interface tocommunicate with a mobile device regarding the electronic transfer offunds to and from the gaming table component) and/or a printer (togenerate a receipt regarding the electronic transfer of funds to andfrom the gaming table component).

In another embodiment, the gaming table is a non-intelligent gamingtable including a suitable support structure, such as one or more legs,a playing surface and a dealer position. In this embodiment, the gamingtable component is separate from but associated with the gaming tableand includes zero, one or more input devices and zero, one or moredisplay devices (to display information to the user and/or gamingestablishment personnel regarding the electronic transfer of funds toand from the gaming table component). In certain embodiments, the gamingtable component additionally includes or is otherwise associated with acommunication interface (such as a wireless communication interface tocommunicate with a mobile device regarding the electronic transfer offunds to and from the gaming table component), a player identificationdevice associated with the gaming table (such as a card reader to enablethe player to log into the gaming table) and/or a printer (to generate areceipt regarding the electronic transfer of funds to and from thegaming table component).

In another embodiment, regardless of if an intelligent gaming table or anon-intelligent gaming table are utilized, the gaming table component isa mobile gaming table component associated with one or more of suchgaming tables. In this embodiment, the mobile gaming table component isassociated with gaming establishment personnel. For example, a tablet ormobile device associated with a gaming establishment mobile staff memberqualifies as a mobile gaming table component. In these embodiments, themobile gaming table component includes zero, one or more input devicesand zero, one or more display devices (to display information to theplayer and/or gaming establishment personnel regarding the electronictransfer of funds to and from the gaming table component). The mobilegaming table component additionally includes or is otherwise associatedwith a communication interface (such as a wireless communicationinterface to communicate with a mobile device regarding the electronictransfer of funds to and from the gaming table component), a playeridentification device associated with the gaming table (such as a cardreader to enable the user, such as a player, to log into the gamingtable) and/or a printer (to generate a receipt regarding the electronictransfer of funds to and from the gaming table component).

In varous embodiments, if a user wants to access the funds using afunding instrument, such as a credit card, at a gaming table utilizing amobile device application, then following the user associating thefunding instrument with the mobile device application (e.g., following auser scanning or otherwise keying in a credit card account number intothe mobile device application), the user pairs or links their mobiledevice with the gaming table component.

Following the pairing between the mobile device and the gaming tablecomponent (or other component of a gaming establishment managementsystem supported by the gaming table component), the system enables theuser to utilize a mobile device to view information about one or morefunding instruments available to the user and/or one or more gamingestablishment accounts maintained in association with that user. Inaddition to enabling the user to view, via the mobile device applicationof the paired mobile device, information about one or more fundinginstruments and/or one or more gaming establishment accounts maintainedin association with that user, the system enables the user to initiate atransfer of an amount of funds using such funding instruments. That is,the system enables the user to attempt to utilize a funding instrument,such as a credit card associated with a credit card account maintainedby a financial institution, accessed in association with a mobile deviceapplication to first transfer an amount of funds to a gamingestablishment account associated with the user, such as the user’scashless wagering account (and then transfer, independent of anyadditional inputs by the user, part or all of the amount of funds to agaming table component for distribution as a quantity of gaming chips).In these embodiments, interfacing with the mobile device application,the system enables the user to make one or more inputs regarding therequested transfer of funds using the funding instrument, such as, butnot limited to, one or more inputs to indicate an amount of funds to beaccessed using the funding instrument, one or more inputs indicating thetype and quantity of gaming chips to be issued following the transfer,one or more inputs to approve the indicated amount of funds to beaccessed using the funding instrument, and/or one or more inputs toconfirm the accessing of the amount of funds using the fundinginstrument.

It should be appreciated that, as described above, certainjurisdictional regulations and/or gaming establishment policies requirethe user to approve their transaction to access the funds using thefunding instrument. In one such embodiment, the user acknowledges theapproval of the transfer by entering a PIN via the mobile deviceapplication, providing a signature and/or presenting a biometricidentifier to the mobile device. In another embodiment, the useracknowledges the approval of the transfer by entering a PIN, providing asignature and/or presenting a biometric identifier to the gaming tablecomponent or a peripheral device associated with the gaming tablecomponent, such as a display device or input device associated with acomponent of the gaming establishment management system in communicationwith the gaming table component.

In these embodiments, following receipt of the user inputted dataassociated with the determined amount of funds to be transferred usingthe funding instrument and a confirmation from the user that theyapprove of the transaction, the mobile device application (and/or thegaming table component) communicates one or more messages to theexternal funding system to request a transfer of the determined amountof funds using the employed funding instrument. Upon receiving themessages from the mobile device application (and/or the gaming tablecomponent) and verifying the request, the external funding systemcommunicates one or more messages to one or more components of a bankingnetwork to request a transfer of the determined amount of funds usingthe employed funding instrument. For example, following the externalfunding system receiving, from the mobile device and via one or morefunding application programming interfaces called by the mobile deviceapplication, data associated with a request to transfer an amount offunds from an external account, the external funding systemcommunicates, to one or more servers of a financial institutionassociated with the external account and via one or more fundingapplication programming interfaces, data associated with the request totransfer an amount of funds from the external account.

In certain embodiments, if one or more components of the banking networkdetermine not to authorize the transfer of an amount of funds from theexternal account, upon receiving one or more messages from suchcomponents of the banking network regarding the denial of the transfer,the external funding system communicates a transfer denial to the mobiledevice application (and/or the gaming table component). In certainembodiments, following the denial, one or more display devicesassociated with the mobile device (and/or the gaming table component)display one or more messages regarding the failed transfer of funds fromthe external account.

On the other hand, if one or more components of the banking networkdetermine to authorize the transfer of an amount of funds from theexternal account, upon receiving one or more messages from suchcomponents of the banking network regarding the approval of thetransfer, the external funding system communicates an authorization ofthe requested amount of funds to the gaming establishment fundmanagement system. Upon receiving the authorization, the gamingestablishment fund management system updates a balance of a gamingestablishment account by the requested amount of funds transferred usingthe funding instrument. In certain embodiments, in association with thetransfer, the system communicates a transfer of funds confirmation,wherein one or more display devices associated with the mobile device(and/or the gaming table component) display a confirmation of thetransfer of the amount of funds using the funding instrument to thegaming establishment account.

In certain embodiments, following the completion of the transfer of theamount of funds using the funding instrument to the gaming establishmentaccount, such as a cashless wagering account associated with a user, thesystem proceeds with automatically utilizing the mobile deviceapplication to facilitate a further transfer of an amount of funds fromthe gaming establishment account to the gaming table component. That is,upon a determination, by the mobile device application or anothercomponent of the gaming establishment fund management system, that atransfer of funds is completed using the user’s selected fundinginstrument, the mobile device application operates to trigger a transferof funds of an equal amount (or a greater amount or lesser amount) tothe gaming table component for distribution as a quantity of gamingchips. In other words, upon the mobile device application (or othersuitable component, such as a server running a service window displayedby the gaming table component) determining that a funding transfercomplete event occurred in association with the requested transfer ofthe amount of funds using the funding instrument, the mobile deviceapplication operates to facilitate an addition movement of such fundsindependent of any additional user inputs to initiate such further fundmovement.

In certain embodiments, following the determination to proceed with anamount of funds to be automatically transferred from the gamingestablishment account, such as the cashless wagering account, to thegaming table component for distribution as a quantity of gaming chips,the mobile device application communicates, via any suitable wirelesscommunication protocol data associated with the determined amount offunds to be transferred from the gaming establishment account to thegaming table component. For example, where the transfer of funds is froma cashless wagering account, following the receipt of fund transfer datafrom the mobile device, the gaming table component (or a component ofthe gaming table component, such as a SMIB and/or the mobile deviceapplication) proceeds with operating with a cashless wagering system tolog the user into a cashless wagering account associated with the user(if necessary) and request the determined amount of funds to betransferred from the cashless wagering account to the gaming tablecomponent.

Following the mobile device application interacting with the gamingtable component to facilitate the gaming table component requesting thedetermined amount of funds, the component of the gaming establishmentfund management system, such as the cashless wagering system, determineswhether to authorize the transfer of the determined amount of funds. Ifthe component of the gaming establishment fund management systemdetermines not to authorize the determined amount of funds, thecomponent of the gaming establishment fund management systemcommunicates a denial to the gaming table component and/or the mobiledevice application, wherein the gaming table component and/or mobiledevice application display a denial of funds transfer to the user. Onthe other hand, if the component of the gaming establishment fundmanagement system determines to authorize the determined amount offunds, the component of the gaming establishment fund management systemupdates the gaming establishment account associated with the user andcommunicates an authorization to the gaming table component. Forexample, when funds are being transferred from a cashless wageringaccount to the gaming table component, the cashless wagering systemreduces a balance of the cashless wagering account by the reduced amountof funds.

Following the completion of the transfer of an amount of funds from thegaming establishment account associated with the identified user to agaming table component, the gaming table component causes a displaydevice to display instructions to gaming establishment personnel toissue the identified user an amount of gaming chips corresponding to theamount of transferred funds and/or causes a printer to generate areceipt with instructions to gaming establishment personnel to issue theidentified user an amount of gaming chips corresponding to the amount oftransferred funds.

In one such embodiment, the gaming table component causes a displaydevice of a dealer workstation to display instructions to a dealer toissue the user an amount of gaming chips corresponding to the amount oftransferred funds. For example, following the completion of the transferof $100 from the user’s cashless wagering account (funded by the userutilizing the mobile device application to obtain funds using a fundinginstrument) to the gaming table component, the gaming table componentutilizes a dealer workstation to inform the dealer to distribute $100 ingaming chips to the user.

In another such embodiment, the gaming table component causes a displaydevice of a mobile gaming table component, such as a mobile workstationassociated with a gaming establishment mobile staff member, to displayinstructions to a gaming establishment staff member associated with thegaming table to issue the user an amount of gaming chips correspondingto the amount of transferred funds. For example, following thecompletion of the transfer of $100 from the user’s cashless wageringaccount (funded by the user utilizing the mobile device application toobtain funds using a funding instrument) to the gaming table component,the gaming table component utilizes a mobile workstation to inform theappropriate gaming establishment personnel to distribute $100 in gamingchips to the user. It should be appreciated that in these embodiments,since the user has identified themselves to the gaming table component(e.g., via the mobile device application which the user has logged into)and since the fund transfer requests also includes data identifying theuser, the information displayed to the gaming establishment personnelincludes identifying information regarding the user to issue the gamingchips to. In one such embodiment, the identifying information includesthe user’s name. In another such embodiment, the identifying informationadditionally or alternatively includes the seat at the gaming tablewhere the user is located. In another such embodiment, the identifyinginformation additionally or alternatively includes a picture of theuser.

In various embodiments, following the distribution of a quantity ofgaming chips to the user, the user may utilize such gaming chips toplace one or more wagers at the gaming table associated with the gamingtable component. As seen in FIG. 3B (which illustrates an example of thedescribed interactions between the mobile device application, the gamingestablishment fund management system, the gaming table component (and/ora component of the gaming table component, such as a SMIB), a gamingtable system which communicates data between the gaming table componentand gaming establishment fund management system, the external fundingsystem and the banking network), certain embodiments of obtaining fundsusing a funding instrument for use at a gaming table component via amobile device application involve a user perceived one-step processwherein a user’s interaction with a mobile device application appears tobe limited to user requesting such funds (and, in certain instances,indicating how they want gaming chips associated with such funds to beissued). However, as seen in this example, following the user’s request,the components of the system operate in a multiple step process to firsttransfer the requested funds to a gaming establishment account (i.e., awagering account) maintained by a component of a gaming establishmentfund management system (i.e., a Cashless Wagering System) and then,following a determination that this first transfer is complete, themobile device application automatically proceeds to attempt tofacilitate a transfer of such funds to a gaming table component fordistribution as a quantity of gaming chips. Accordingly, the system ofcertain embodiments enables a user at a gaming table to, using a mobiledevice application being executed on a mobile device (or other suitableuser interface) facilitate a deposit of an amount of funds in a gamingestablishment account through the use of a funding instrument followedby the transfer of part or all of that amount of funds from the gamingestablishment account to a gaming table component associated with agaming table (and then exchanged for gaming chips to be played at thegaming table) without further interrupting the user’s gaming experience.

Following providing instructions to gaming establishment personnel toissue the identified user an amount of gaming chips corresponding to theamount of transferred funds and following the gaming establishmentpersonnel making one or more inputs indicating a completion of theissuance of the amount of gaming chips corresponding to the amount oftransferred funds, the gaming table component causes a receipt to begenerated associated with the issuance of the amount of gaming chips. Inone such embodiment, the receipt is a physical receipt which the gamingestablishment personnel deposited in a drop box or otherwise retainsuntil submitted to the gaming establishment. In another such embodiment,the receipt is a virtual receipt which is communicated to one or moregaming establishment accounting servers.

It should be appreciated that in these embodiments, since the issuanceof chips from an electronic transfer of funds to the gaming table mustbe accounted for when reconciling the transactions associated with thegaming table, the gaming table component causes the generation of areceipt to memorialize the electronic transaction. For example, if adealer at a gaming table provides the user a quantity of gaming chipscorresponding to the amount of funds electronically transferred from theuser’s gaming establishment account to the gaming table component, thedealer deposits the printed receipt into a dropbox at the gaming tablesuch that at the end of the dealer’s shift, the gaming chip tray isbalanced when accounting for the cash which the dealer exchanged forgaming chips and the electronic fund transfers which the dealerexchanged for gaming chips. In another example, if a gamingestablishment mobile staff member servicing an area with multiple gamingtables provides a user a quantity of gaming chips corresponding to theamount of funds electronically transferred from the user’s gamingestablishment account to the mobile gaming table component carried bythe mobile staff member, the mobile staff member deposits the printedreceipt into a pouch or folder they carry with them such that at the endof the mobile staff member’s shift, the gaming chips initially providedto the mobile staff member is balanced when accounting for the cashwhich the mobile staff member exchanged for gaming chips and theelectronic fund transfers which the mobile staff member exchanged forgaming chips.

In certain embodiments, the system operates utilizing theabove-described multi-step process of first funding a gamingestablishment account with an amount of funds and then, upon adetermination of an occurrence of a funding transfer complete event,funding a gaming device (e.g., an EGM or a gaming table component) withpart or all of the amount of funds regardless of the type of fundinginstrument used. In certain other embodiments, the system operates withthe above-described multi-step process of first funding a gamingestablishment account with an amount of funds and then, upon adetermination of an occurrence of a funding transfer complete event,funding the gaming device with part or all of the amount of funds forcertain types of funding instruments, but not for other types of fundinginstruments. That is, since certain jurisdictional regulations preventthe direct funding of a gaming device with certain funding instrumentsbut permit the direct funding of a gaming device with other fundinginstruments, in certain embodiments, the system operates differentlydependent on the type of funding instrument employed by the user. Inthese embodiments, if one or more components of the system determinethat the user is attempting to access funds using a first type offunding instrument, such as a credit card, then following adetermination that a multi-step process is required, such componentsemploy a first mode of operation to transfer funds using that fundinginstrument to the gaming device as part of the multi-step transferprocess described above. On the other hand, if one or more components ofthe system determine that the user is attempting to access funds using asecond, different type of funding instrument, such as a debit card, thenfollowing a determination that no multi-step process is required, suchcomponents employ a second, different mode of operation to transferfunds using that funding instrument to the gaming device as part of aone-step transfer which does not require the mobile device applicationto monitor for an occurrence of a funding transfer complete event priorto transferring funds from the gaming establishment account to thegaming device. That is, one or more components of the system of thepresent disclosure adjust how they operate in transferring funds to agaming device based on an identification of a type of funding instrumentemployed by the user to access such funds. For example, if the systemdetermines that a financial transaction is associated with a fundinginstrument of a bank account accessed by a debit card, then the gamingestablishment fund management system transfers the funds deposited tothe user’s gaming establishment account to the gaming device (withoutthe need to monitor for a funding transfer complete event) asregulations permit this type of transaction for certain fundinginstruments. Accordingly, as seen in FIG. 3C (which illustrates anexample of the interactions between the mobile device application, theEGM (and/or a component of the EGM, such as a SMIB), the gamingestablishment fund management system, the external funding system andthe banking network), certain embodiments of obtaining funds from anexternal account associated with a funding instrument for use at an EGMvia a mobile device application involve one step from the mobile deviceapplication, wherein following the mobile device application requestingfunds using a funding instrument, the components of the system operateto transfer the requested funds to a gaming establishment account (i.e.,a wagering account) maintained by a component of a gaming establishmentfund management system (i.e., a Cashless Wagering System) and thentransfer the funds to an EGM without the mobile device applicationotherwise monitoring for an occurrence of a funding transfer completeevent nor taking any actions upon a determined occurrence of such afunding transfer complete event. Such a configuration increasesoperational efficiencies of the components of the system by executingdifferent tasks at different points in time responsive to the particularfunding instrument selected by the user.

In certain embodiments, as indicated above, rather than the mobiledevice application monitoring for an occurrence of a funding transfercomplete event and then taking action to facilitate the transfer offunds from the gaming establishment account to the gaming device upon adetermined occurrence of such a funding transfer complete event, one ormore other components monitor for an occurrence of a funding transfercomplete event. In these embodiments, upon such one or more othercomponents, such as a service window displayed by the gaming device,logic code running on a SMIB, or a server of the gaming establishmentfund management system, such components take action to facilitate thetransfer of funds from the gaming establishment account to the gamingdevice upon a determined occurrence of the funding transfer completeevent.

Linking Mobile Device to Gaming Device

In various embodiments, as indicated above, prior to enabling a user,such as a player, to take any action related to the system (such asusing a mobile device to facilitate the access of funds associated witha selected funding instrument and causing a transfer of such funds froma cashless wagering account to a gaming device), a pairing or linkageoccurs between the mobile device and the gaming device, such as the EGMor the gaming table component. The pairing or linkage between the mobiledevice and the gaming device occurs via one or more applications beingrun or executed on the mobile device.

In certain embodiments, after a user has opened an application on amobile device, logged into the application (if required) and selected anaction to be performed (such as utilizing a funding instrument to accessfunds), the system determines if the mobile device application isassociated with an active authorization token previously created by thesystem. In these embodiments, an authorization token is a time-basedtoken which expires after a designated period of time and which isassociated with an additional level of user authentication beyond auser’s application username and application password.

If the system determines that the application is not associated with anactive authorization token previously created by the system, the mobiledevice application prompts the user to provide identifying information,such as a personal identification number or biometric identifier. Themobile device application stores the provided identifying information asmobile device encrypted data. Following the user providing identifyinginformation, the mobile device application prompts the user to cause themobile device to engage the gaming device (e.g., the EGM, a component ofthe EGM or the gaming table component), such as prompting the user totap the mobile device to a designated portion of the EGM. It should beappreciated that any reference herein to a user tapping the mobiledevice to a designated portion of the gaming device may or may notinclude the user pressing a fingerprint scanner (if the mobile device isequipped with such a fingerprint scanner) while concurrently engagingthe gaming device. In other embodiments, the mobile device applicationverifies the identifying information of the user by communicating with averification/authentication server over one or more wirelesscommunication protocols, such as WiFi protocol, a cellular communicationprotocol (e.g., 3G or LTE), to obtain the active authorization token.

In certain embodiments, following the user causing the mobile device toengage the gaming device (e.g., the user taps the mobile device to aplayer tracking card reader or other designated location(s) of a gamingtable component), the mobile device application communicates, via awireless communication protocol, the provided identifying informationand the requested action to be performed to the gaming device. Forexample, upon the user tapping the mobile device to a player trackingcard reader or other designated location(s) of the EGM (or otherwisemoving the mobile device to within a designated distance of the playertracking card reader or other designated locations(s) of the EGM), themobile device application sends the identifying information and therequested action to a component of a gaming establishment managementsystem located inside the EGM, such as a NexGen^(®) player trackingcomponent of an IGT Advantage^(®) system. NexGen^(®) and IGTAdvantage^(®) are trademarks of IGT, the Applicant of the presentapplication.

Following the communication of the identifying information and therequested action to the gaming device, the system determines if theidentifying information is valid. For example, a designated systemcomponent configured to operate with a player tracking system determineswhether the identifying information is valid. If the system determinesthat the identifying information is invalid, the system communicates aninvalid identifying information response to the mobile device. Forexample, an identifying information status message is communicated tothe mobile device which reports whether the identifying information isvalid or invalid. The mobile device application then displays one ormore messages regarding the invalid identifying information and promptsthe user to provide identifying information, such as a personalidentification number or biometric identifier. In certain suchembodiments, if the mobile device receives a communication that theidentifying information is invalid (or alternatively in association withthe initial creation of a token) and if the mobile device includes afingerprint scanner, the mobile device application prompts the user topress the fingerprint scanner while engaging the gaming device, such astapping the mobile device to a designated portion of the gaming tablecomponent. On the other hand, if the system determines that theidentifying information is valid, the system creates an authorizationtoken. The system associates the authorization token with a timestamp ofwhen the authorization token will expire. In certain embodiments, acashless system includes a key distribution center which generates asession key to encrypt all cashless messages. The session key is rotatedperiodically at a configurable rate from 1 hour to 24 hours. In theseembodiments, the system utilizes this session key to sign the token dataand create a token. As such, the token time-to-live will be less than orequal to the session key rotation period. In other embodiments, suchauthorization tokens are managed utilizing software (and not a keydistribution center).

In certain embodiments, the authorization token expires after adesignated period of time as an additional level of security in thetransfer of fund data to/from the gaming table component which isfacilitated the mobile device. Such a designated amount of time which anauthorization token remains valid enables the user to move from onegaming device (e.g., one gaming table associated with one gaming tablecomponent) to another gaming device (e.g., another gaming tableassociated with another gaming table component) and, transfer fundsto/from each gaming device and a gaming establishment account, withouthaving to reprovide such identifying information each time the userswitches gaming devices. That is, the mobile device application of thepresent disclosure is configured to communicate with one or more gamingdevices (without having to reauthenticate itself repeatedly) during thedesignated amount of time which the authorization token remains valid.

Following the creation of an authorization token, the systemcommunicates the created authorization token to the mobile device, suchas via one or more messages including the created authorization token,for storage by the mobile device application and proceeds with executingone or more of the requested actions and communicating a requestedaction response to the mobile device. For example, upon the creation ofthe authorization token, the component of a gaming establishmentmanagement system located inside the gaming device, such as a NexGen^(®)player tracking component of an IGT Advantage^(®) system, communicatesthe created authorization token to the mobile device and proceeds withexecuting the requested action. On the other hand, following adetermination that the mobile device application is associated with apreviously created and stored authentication token, the mobile deviceapplication prompts the user to cause the mobile device to engage thegaming device, such as prompting the user to tap the mobile device to adesignated portion of the EGM.

Following the user causing the mobile device to engage the gaming device(e.g., the user taps the mobile device to a player tracking card readeror other designated location(s) of the EGM), the mobile deviceapplication communicates, via a wireless communication protocol, thepreviously stored authorization token and the requested action to beperformed to the gaming device. For example, upon the user tapping themobile device to a player tracking card reader or other designatedlocation(s) of the gaming table component, the mobile device applicationsends the stored authorization token and the requested action to acomponent of a gaming establishment management system located inside thegaming table component, such as a NexGen^(®) player tracking componentof an IGT Advantage^(®) system.

Following the communication of the stored authorization token and therequested action to the gaming device, the system determines if thecommunicated authorization token is still valid. For example, a systemcomponent configured to operate with a player tracking system determineswhether the authorization token is valid (i.e., active and non-expired).If the system determines that the communication authorization token isinvalid, the system communicates an invalid authorization token responseto the mobile device. The mobile device application then displays one ormore messages regarding the invalid authorization token and prompts theuser to provide identifying information, such as a personalidentification number or biometric identifier, to obtain anotherauthentication token. On the other hand, if the system determines thatthe stored authorization token is valid, the system proceeds withexecuting the requested action. For example, upon the determination thatthe communicated authorization token is valid, the component of a gamingestablishment management system located inside the gaming tablecomponent proceeds with executing the requested action and communicatesa requested action response to the mobile device.

In certain embodiments, the system enables a user to interact with thegaming device via the mobile device, without having to continuallyreengage the gaming device with the mobile device for each requestedaction. In these embodiments, after initially establishing a secureconnection with the gaming device, subsequent interactions between themobile device application and the gaming device occur without anysubsequent physical interaction between the mobile device and the gamingdevice. That is, to avoid having the user retrieve the mobile device andrepeat the physical operation of engaging the gaming device with themobile device, certain embodiments enable the user to execute one ormore functions without repeating the above-described physical operationof engaging the gaming device with the mobile device. In certain suchembodiments, the mobile device application utilizes one or more displaydevices of the gaming device to display to the user information and/oruser selectable prompts which are otherwise displayable via the displaydevice of the mobile device.

In certain other embodiments, for each interaction or requested actionbetween the gaming device and the mobile device, the system requires theuser to reengage the gaming device with the mobile device to reestablishor confirm the pairing between the gaming device and the mobile device.In certain other embodiments, for each interaction between the gamingdevice and the mobile device that occur a designated amount of timeafter the last engagement of the gaming device with the mobile device,the system requires the user to reengage the gaming device with themobile device to reestablish or confirm the pairing between the gamingdevice and the mobile device.

It should be appreciated that while certain data or informationpertaining to one or more of the requested actions are communicated froman EGM, a component of the EGM, a gaming table component (or a componentof a gaming establishment management system supported by or otherwiselocated inside the gaming table component) to a mobile device, such dataor information may additionally or alternatively be communicated: (i)from one or more servers to a mobile device via one or more wirelesscommunication protocols, or (ii) from a gaming table component to one ormore servers via one or more wireless communication protocols and thenfrom one or more servers to a mobile device via one or more wirelesscommunication protocols.

It should additionally be appreciated that the mobile device facilitatedfund data transfers of the present disclosure may occur in addition toor as an alternative from cash-based fund transfers and/or ticketvoucher-based fund transfers. In one such embodiment, an amount of fundstransferred to an EGM or a gaming table component (to be provided by agaming establishment personnel as gaming chips) is funded via any of amobile device facilitated fund transfer, a cash-based fund transfer or aticket voucher-based fund transfer. In another embodiment, an amount offunds transferred from an EGM or a gaming table component (whichresulted from an exchange of gaming chips by a gaming establishmentpersonnel) is cashed out via any of a mobile device facilitated fundtransfer, a cash-based fund transfer or a ticket voucher-based fundtransfer. In another embodiment, an amount of funds transferred to anEGM or a gaming table component (to be provided by a gamingestablishment personnel as gaming chips) is funded via a mobile devicefacilitated fund transfer or a cash-based fund transfer (but is notfunded via any ticket voucher-based fund transfer). In anotherembodiment, an amount of funds transferred from an EGM or a gaming tablecomponent (which resulted from an exchange of gaming chips by a gamingestablishment personnel) is cashed out via a mobile device facilitatedfund transfer or a cash-based fund transfer (but is not cashed out viaany ticket voucher-based fund transfer). In another embodiment, anamount of funds transferred to an EGM or a gaming table component (to beprovided by a gaming establishment personnel as gaming chips) is fundedvia a mobile device facilitated fund transfer or a ticket voucher-basedfund transfer (but is not funded via any cash-based fund transfer). Inanother embodiment, an amount of funds transferred from an EGM or agaming table component (which resulted from an exchange of gaming chipsby a gaming establishment personnel) is cashed out via a mobile devicefacilitated fund transfer or a ticket voucher-based fund transfer (butis not cashed out via any cash-based fund transfer). In anotherembodiment, an amount of funds transferred to an EGM or a gaming tablecomponent (to be provided by a gaming establishment personnel as gamingchips) is funded via a mobile device facilitated fund transfer (but isnot funded via a cash-based fund transfer nor a ticket voucher-basedfund transfer). In another embodiment, an amount of funds transferredfrom an EGM or a gaming table component (which resulted from an exchangeof gaming chips by a gaming establishment personnel) is cashed out via amobile device facilitated fund transfer (but is not cashed out via acash-based fund transfer nor a ticket voucher-based fund transfer).

It should be further appreciated that any functionality or processdescribed herein may be implemented via one or more servers, one or moreEGMs, one or more components of an EGM, one or more gaming tablecomponents, one or more gaming establishment components (such as acomponent of a gaming establishment management system (e.g., a playertracking unit) supported by or otherwise located inside the gaming tablecomponent), or a mobile device application. For example, while certaindata or information described herein is explained as being communicatedfrom an EGM, a component of an EGM, a gaming table component or a gamingestablishment component (such as a component of a gaming establishmentmanagement system (e.g., a player tracking unit) supported by orotherwise located inside the gaming table component) to a mobile devicevia one or more wireless communication protocols, such data orinformation may additionally or alternatively be communicated from oneor more servers to a mobile device via one or more wirelesscommunication protocols. Accordingly: (i) while certain functions,features or processes are described herein as being performed by an EGM,a component of an EGM, or a gaming table component, such functions,features or processes may alternatively be performed by one or moreservers, or one or more mobile device applications, or one or moregaming establishment components (such as a component of a gamingestablishment management system (e.g., a player tracking unit) supportedby or otherwise located inside the gaming table component), (ii) whilecertain functions, features or processes are described herein as beingperformed by one or more mobile device applications, such functions,features or processes may alternatively be performed by one or moreservers, one or more EGMs, one or more components of an EGM, one or moregaming table components, or one or more gaming establishment components(such as a component of a gaming establishment management system (e.g.,a player tracking unit) supported by or otherwise located inside thegaming table component), (iii) while certain functions, features orprocesses are described herein as being performed by one or moreservers, such functions, features or processes may alternatively beperformed by one or more EGMs, one or more components of an EGM, one ormore gaming table components, one or more mobile device applications, orone or more gaming establishment components (such as a component of agaming establishment management system (e.g., a player tracking unit)supported by or otherwise located inside the gaming table component)),and (iv) while certain functions, features or processes are describedherein as being performed by one or more gaming establishment components(such as a component of a gaming establishment management system (e.g.,a player tracking unit) supported by or otherwise located inside thegaming table component), such functions, features or processes mayalternatively be performed by one or more EGMs, one or more componentsof an EGM, one or more gaming table components, or one or more mobiledevice applications, or one or more servers.

Securing Transactions Between Mobile Device and Gaming Device

While the facilitation of the transfer of funds accessed from a fundinginstrument to a gaming establishment account and then to a gaming devicevia a mobile device has many advantages described herein, certainsecurity concerns arise when transferring fund data wirelessly between agaming device and a mobile device (or between a gaming device and themobile device via one or more servers). For example, a malicious personmay attempt to intercept such a wireless communication and steal thefunds being transferred. Such a malicious person may devise electronics,such as an antenna or other electronics placed on or near the gamingdevice to insert their mobile device between a “cash out” input and themobile device engaging the gaming device.

More specifically, when facilitating a transfer of between a gamingdevice and a gaming establishment account via the mobile deviceapplication, a user initiates an engagement of the gaming device withthe mobile device, such as tapping the mobile device to a playertracking card reader or other designated location(s) of the gamingdevice. However, before the engagement of the gaming device with theuser’s mobile device is complete, an intruder utilizes such devisedelectronics to beat the user to the completion of the engagement. Inthis example, when the user subsequently actuates a “cash out” button onthe gaming device, the gaming device proceeds with transferring theamount of the credit balance of the mobile device of the intruder. Sucha concern is also present when a user attempts to wirelessly transferfunds to a gaming device via a mobile device wherein the intruder deviceintercepts such a transfer and reroutes the funds to the mobile deviceof the intruder.

In view of these security concerns, certain embodiments of the presentdisclosure utilize a time window, such as ten seconds, in associationwith one or more requested actions. In one such embodiment, afterreceiving an initiation of an engagement of the gaming device with themobile device, the gaming device assigns or otherwise associates a timewindow with such an engagement. If one mobile device is attempted to bepaired with the gaming device within the associated time window beforean action is requested, the gaming device determines that only onemobile device is communicating with the gaming device and the gamingdevice proceeds with executing the requested action, such as a requestedfund transfer as described herein. On the other hand, if more than onemobile device is attempted to be paired with the gaming device withinthe associated time window before an action is requested, the gamingdevice determines that an intruder device may be present. In such asituation, the gaming device cancels the requested action and/or promptsthe user to reengage the gaming device with the mobile device.

In another such embodiment, after receiving a requested action from themobile device, the gaming device assigns or otherwise associates a timewindow with such a requested action. Following the requested action, ifone mobile device is attempted to be paired with the gaming devicewithin the associated time window, the gaming device determines thatonly one mobile device is communicating with the gaming device and thegaming device proceeds with executing the requested action, such as arequested fund transfer as described herein. On the other hand,following the requested action, if more than one mobile device isattempted to be paired with the gaming device within the associated timewindow, the gaming device determines that an intruder device may bepresent. In such a situation, the gaming device cancels the requestedaction and/or prompts the user to reengage the gaming device with themobile device.

It should be appreciated that in addition to thwarting an isolatedattempt by an intruder to intercept a wireless fund transfer, the systemis configured to identify if a device is involved in multiple attemptedengagements with a gaming device over a designated threshold or timewindow. In this embodiment, such a device may be prohibited from beinginvolved in further wireless fund transfers. For example, if multipleengagements are detected involving a single device within a twenty-fourhour period, then that mobile device could be banned from participatingin any future engagements. Alternatively, that device could be preventedfrom participating in engagements for a designated period of time, suchas a cooling-off period.

Gaming Table Components

In certain embodiments, the above-described embodiments of the presentdisclosure may be implemented in accordance with or in conjunction withone or more of a variety of different types of gaming table components,such as, but not limited to, a kiosk (or mobile gaming table component)and/or a kiosk (or mobile gaming table component) in combination with acentral server, central controller, or remote host.

In certain embodiments, as seen in FIG. 4 , the gaming table component400 includes a gaming table component controller 412 configured tocommunicate with and to operate with a plurality of peripheral devices422.

The gaming table component controller 412 includes at least oneprocessor 410. The at least one processor 410 is any suitable processingdevice or set of processing devices, such as a microprocessor, amicrocontroller-based platform, a suitable integrated circuit, or one ormore application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), configured toexecute software enabling various configuration and reconfigurationtasks, such as: (1) communicating with a remote source (such as a serverthat stores authentication information) via a communication interface406 of the gaming table component controller 412; (2) converting signalsread by an interface to a format corresponding to that used by softwareor memory of the gaming table component; (3) accessing memory toconfigure or reconfigure parameters in the memory according to indiciaread from the gaming table component; (4) communicating with interfacesand the peripheral devices 422 (such as input/output devices); and/or(5) controlling the peripheral devices 422. In certain embodiments, oneor more components of the gaming table component controller 412 (such asthe at least one processor 410) reside within a housing of the gamingtable component (described below), while in other embodiments at leastone component of the gaming table component controller 412 residesoutside of the housing of the gaming table component.

The gaming table component controller 412 also includes at least onememory device 416, which includes: (1) volatile memory (e.g., RAM 409,which can include non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, andany other suitable forms); (2) non-volatile memory 419 (e.g., diskmemory, FLASH memory, EPROMs, EEPROMs, memristor-based non-volatilesolid-state memory, etc.); (3) unalterable memory (e.g., EPROMs 408);(4) read-only memory; and/or (5) a secondary memory storage device 415,such as a non-volatile memory device, configured to store gamingsoftware related information (the software related information and thememory may be used to store various audio files not currently being usedand invoked in a configuration or reconfiguration). Any other suitablemagnetic, optical, and/or semiconductor memory may operate inconjunction with the gaming table component of the present disclosure.In certain embodiments, the at least one memory device 416 resideswithin the housing of the gaming table component (described below),while in other embodiments at least one component of the at least onememory device 416 resides outside of the housing of the gaming tablecomponent.

The at least one memory device 416 is configured to store, for example:(1) configuration software 414, such as all the parameters and settingson the gaming table component; (2) associations 418 betweenconfiguration indicia read from a gaming table component with one ormore parameters and settings; (3) communication protocols configured toenable the at least one processor 410 to communicate with the peripheraldevices 422; and/or (4) communication transport protocols (such asTCP/IP, USB, Firewire, IEEE1394, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11x (IEEE 802.11standards), hiperlan/2, HomeRF, etc.) configured to enable the gamingtable component to communicate with local and non-local devices usingsuch protocols. In one implementation, the gaming table componentcontroller 412 communicates with other devices using a serialcommunication protocol. A few non-limiting examples of serialcommunication protocols that other devices, such as peripherals (e.g., abill validator or a ticket printer), may use to communicate with thegaming table component controller 412 include USB, RS-232, and Netplex(a proprietary protocol developed by IGT).

In certain embodiments, the at least one memory device 416 is configuredto store program code and instructions executable by the at least oneprocessor of the gaming table component to control the gaming tablecomponent. The at least one memory device 416 of the gaming tablecomponent also stores other operating data, such as image data, eventdata, input data, or information, and/or applicable rules on the gamingtable component. In various embodiments, part or all of the program codeand/or the operating data described above is stored in at least onedetachable or removable memory device including, but not limited to, acartridge, a disk, a CD ROM, a DVD, a USB memory device, or any othersuitable non-transitory computer readable medium. In certain suchembodiments, an operator (such as a gaming establishment operator)and/or a user uses such a removable memory device in a gaming tablecomponent to implement at least part of the present disclosure. In otherembodiments, part or all of the program code and/or the operating datais downloaded to the at least one memory device of the gaming tablecomponent through any suitable data network described above (such as anInternet or intranet).

The at least one memory device 416 also stores a plurality of devicedrivers 442. Examples of different types of device drivers includedevice drivers for gaming table component components and device driversfor the peripheral components 422. Typically, the device drivers 442utilize various communication protocols that enable communication with aparticular physical device. The device driver abstracts the hardwareimplementation of that device. For example, a device driver may bewritten for each type of card reader that could potentially be connectedto the gaming table component. Non-limiting examples of communicationprotocols used to implement the device drivers include Netplex, USB,Serial, Ethernet 175, Firewire, I/O debouncer, direct memory map,serial, PCI, parallel, RF, Bluetooth™, near-field communications (e.g.,using near-field magnetics), 802.11 (WiFi), etc. In one embodiment, whenone type of a particular device is exchanged for another type of theparticular device, the at least one processor of the gaming tablecomponent loads the new device driver from the at least one memorydevice to enable communication with the new device. For instance, onetype of card reader in the gaming table component can be replaced with asecond different type of card reader when device drivers for both cardreaders are stored in the at least one memory device.

In certain embodiments, the software units stored in the at least onememory device 416 can be upgraded as needed. For instance, when the atleast one memory device 416 is a hard drive, new parameters, newsettings for existing parameters, new settings for new parameters, newdevice drivers, and new communication protocols can be uploaded to theat least one memory device 416 from the gaming table componentcontroller 412 or from some other external device. As another example,when the at least one memory device 416 includes a CD/DVD driveincluding a CD/DVD configured to store options, parameters, andsettings, the software stored in the at least one memory device 416 canbe upgraded by replacing a first CD/DVD with a second CD/DVD. In yetanother example, when the at least one memory device 416 uses flashmemory 419 or EPROM 408 units configured to store options, parameters,and settings, the software stored in the flash and/or EPROM memory unitscan be upgraded by replacing one or more memory units with new memoryunits that include the upgraded software. In another embodiment, one ormore of the memory devices, such as the hard drive, may be employed in asoftware download process from a remote software server.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory device 416 also storesauthentication and/or validation components 444 configured toauthenticate/validate specified gaming table component components and/orinformation, such as hardware components, software components, firmwarecomponents, peripheral device components, user input device components,information received from one or more user input devices, informationstored in the at least one memory device 416, etc.

In certain embodiments, the peripheral devices 422 include severaldevice interfaces, such as: (1) at least one output device 420 includingat least one display device 435; (2) at least one input device 430(which may include contact and/or non-contact interfaces); (3) at leastone transponder 454; (4) at least one wireless communication component456; (5) at least one wired/wireless power distribution component 458;(6) at least one sensor 460; (7) at least one data preservationcomponent 462; (8) at least one motion/gesture analysis andinterpretation component 464; (9) at least one motion detectioncomponent 466; (10) at least one portable power source 468; (11) atleast one geolocation module 476; (12) at least one user identificationmodule 477; (13) at least one user/device tracking module 478; and (14)at least one information filtering module 479.

The at least one output device 420 includes at least one display device435 configured to display any displayed by the gaming table componentand any suitable information . In certain embodiments, the displaydevices are connected to or mounted on a housing of the gaming tablecomponent (described below).

In various embodiments, the display devices include, without limitation:a monitor, a television display, a plasma display, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a display based on light emitting diodes (LEDs), adisplay based on a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), adisplay based on polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display basedon a plurality of surface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a displayincluding a projected and/or reflected image, or any other suitableelectronic device or display mechanism. In certain embodiments, asdescribed above, the display device includes a touch-screen with anassociated touch-screen controller. The display devices may be of anysuitable sizes, shapes, and configurations.

In certain embodiments, the at least one output device 420 is a soundgenerating device controlled by one or more sound cards. In one suchembodiment, the sound generating device includes one or more speakers orother sound generating hardware and/or software configured to generatesounds.

The at least one input device 430 may include any suitable device thatenables an input signal to be produced and received by the at least oneprocessor 410 of the gaming table component.

In various embodiments, the at least one input device 430 includes aplurality of buttons that are programmable by the gaming table componentoperator to, when actuated, cause the gaming table component to performparticular functions. In certain embodiments, the at least one inputdevice 430 includes a touch-screen coupled to a touch-screen controlleror other touch-sensitive display overlay to enable interaction with anyimages displayed on a display device (as described below). One suchinput device is a conventional touch-screen button panel. Thetouch-screen and the touch-screen controller are connected to a videocontroller. In these embodiments, signals are input to the gaming tablecomponent by touching the touch screen at the appropriate locations.

In embodiments including a player tracking system, as further describedbelow, the at least one input device 430 includes a card reader incommunication with the at least one processor of the gaming tablecomponent.

The at least one wireless communication component 456 includes one ormore communication interfaces having different architectures andutilizing a variety of protocols, such as (but not limited to) 802.11(WiFi); 802.15 (including Bluetooth™); 802.16 (WiMax); 802.22; cellularstandards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, and WCDMA; Radio Frequency (e.g.,RFID); infrared; and Near Field Magnetic communication protocols. The atleast one wireless communication component 456 transmits electrical,electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digital data streams oranalog signals representing various types of information.

The at least one wired/wireless power distribution component 458includes components or devices that are configured to provide power toother devices. For example, in one embodiment, the at least one powerdistribution component 458 includes a magnetic induction system that isconfigured to provide wireless power to one or more user input devicesnear the gaming table component. In one embodiment, a user input devicedocking region is provided, and includes a power distribution componentthat is configured to recharge a user input device without requiringmetal-to-metal contact. In one embodiment, the at least one powerdistribution component 458 is configured to distribute power to one ormore internal components of the gaming table component, such as one ormore rechargeable power sources (e.g., rechargeable batteries) locatedat the gaming table component.

In certain embodiments, the at least one sensor 460 includes at leastone of: optical sensors, pressure sensors, RF sensors, infrared sensors,image sensors, thermal sensors, and biometric sensors. The at least onesensor 460 may be used for a variety of functions, such as: detectingmovements and/or gestures of various objects within a predeterminedproximity to the gaming table component; detecting the presence and/oridentity of various persons (e.g., users, casino employees, etc.),devices (e.g., user input devices), and/or systems within apredetermined proximity to the gaming table component.

The at least one data preservation component 462 is configured to detector sense one or more events and/or conditions that, for example, mayresult in damage to the gaming table component and/or that may result inloss of information associated with the gaming table component.Additionally, the data preservation system 462 may be operable toinitiate one or more appropriate action(s) in response to the detectionof such events/conditions.

The at least one motion/gesture analysis and interpretation component464 is configured to analyze and/or interpret information relating todetected user movements and/or gestures to determine appropriate userinput information relating to the detected user movements and/orgestures. For example, in one embodiment, the at least onemotion/gesture analysis and interpretation component 464 is configuredto perform one or more of the following functions: analyze the detectedgross motion or gestures of a user; interpret the user’s motion orgestures to identify instructions or input from the user. In otherembodiments, at least a portion of these additional functions may beimplemented at a remote system or device.

The at least one portable power source 468 enables the gaming tablecomponent to operate in a mobile environment. For example, in oneembodiment, the gaming table component 400 includes one or morerechargeable batteries.

The at least one geolocation module 476 is configured to acquiregeolocation information from one or more remote sources and use theacquired geolocation information to determine information relating to arelative and/or absolute position of the gaming table component. Forexample, in one implementation, the at least one geolocation module 476is configured to receive GPS signal information for use in determiningthe position or location of the gaming table component. In anotherimplementation, the at least one geolocation module 476 is configured toreceive multiple wireless signals from multiple remote devices (e.g.,gaming table components, servers, wireless access points, etc.) and usethe signal information to compute position/location information relatingto the position or location of the gaming table component.

The at least one user identification module 477 is configured todetermine the identity of the current user or current owner of thegaming table component. For example, in one embodiment, the current useris required to perform a login process at the gaming table component inorder to access one or more features. Alternatively, the gaming tablecomponent is configured to automatically determine the identity of thecurrent user based on one or more external signals, such as an RFID tagor badge worn by the current user and that provides a wireless signal tothe gaming table component that is used to determine the identity of thecurrent user. In at least one embodiment, various security features areincorporated into the gaming table component to prevent unauthorizedusers from accessing confidential or sensitive information.

The at least one information filtering module 479 is configured toperform filtering (e.g., based on specified criteria) of selectedinformation to be displayed at one or more displays 435 of the gamingtable component.

In various embodiments, the gaming table component includes a pluralityof communication ports configured to enable the at least one processorof the gaming table component to communicate with and to operate withexternal peripherals, such as: accelerometers, arcade sticks, bar codereaders, bill validators, biometric input devices, button panels, cardreaders, coin dispensers, coin hoppers, display screens or otherdisplays or video sources, expansion buses, information panels, keypads,lights, mass storage devices, microphones, motion sensors, motors,printers, reels, SCSI ports, solenoids, speakers, thumbsticks, ticketreaders, touch screens, trackballs, touchpads, wheels, and wirelesscommunication devices.

Gaming Tables

In certain embodiments, as indicated above, the system employs one ormore intelligent gaming tables or gaming chip tracking systems. In oneembodiment, each intelligent gaming table enables one or more users toplay one or more suitable games by placing one or more wagers utilizingsuch gaming chips. Such game play and/or wagering information is trackedby the intelligent gaming table and provided to a central server. Inanother embodiment, the central server is in communication with at leastone player tracking system to identify at least one user currentlyplacing at least one wager on at least one suitable game at at least oneof the intelligent gaming tables in the system.

In another embodiment, the gaming tables utilized in the system arenon-intelligent gaming tables wherein the gaming chip identificationdevices are not directly integrated or situated in or on the gamingtables. In this embodiment, one or more gaming chip identificationdevices are utilized to track each user’s wagered gaming chips. In onesuch embodiment, gaming chip identification devices are located at,above or below the table. In another such embodiment, the gaming chipidentification devices are attached to the gaming table or adjacent tothe gaming table. In another such embodiment, the gaming chipidentification devices are included in the gaming table. In theseembodiments, gaming establishments do not have to purchase new gamingtables. Rather, gaming establishments may continue using the same gamingtables and install the intelligent table technology around one or moregaming tables.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , a gaming table 502includes a suitable support structure 504, such as one or more legs, aplaying surface 506 and a dealer position 508. In one embodiment, thedealer position includes two different gaming chip trays 510 and 512 forholding several stacks of the dealer’s gaming chips. The dealer may usethe gaming chip trays to collect and store gaming chips, make change fora user, and/or distribute gaming chips upon a gaming chip distributionevent associated with the gaming table component 400. The gaming tableincludes a plurality of user stations or seats 514 a, 514 b, 514 c, 514d and 514 e. In this example, there are five user stations or seats. Itshould be appreciated that the gaming table may accommodate any suitablenumber of user positions and users so as not to interfere with gameplay. In one embodiment, the gaming table includes a plurality of gamingchip holding areas 516 a, 516 b, 516 c, 516 d and 516 e where the usershold their gaming chips. In certain embodiment, the gaming tablesinclude wagering areas (not illustrated) where users place their bets.It should be appreciated that the gaming table may also include acommunity wagering area (not illustrated) where each of the users placetheir wagers. In one embodiment, the gaming table also includes aplurality of playing areas 518 a, 518 b, 518 c, 518 d and 518 eassociated with each of the user stations.

In one embodiment, cards are dealt by the dealer substantially withinthe respective playing areas, such that cards dealt to a first userposition are not confused with cards dealt to a second different userposition. It should be appreciated that games played at the gamingtables may include any suitable card game or any suitable non-card game,such as roulette and craps. The gaming tables are operable to includeany suitable apparatuses or components of the games. It should beappreciated that different gaming tables in the system may include thesame game components or different game components.

In one embodiment, one or more gaming tables in the system each includeat least one processor and at least one memory device, including, butnot limited to the processors and memory devices of the gaming tablecomponent described above. In one embodiment, the system of gamingtables is integrated with one or more player tracking systems. In thisembodiment, the system and/or player tracking system is operable totrack any participating user’s gaming activity at each gaming table ofthe system. In one such embodiment, the system and/or the associatedplayer tracking system timely tracks when a user inserts their playingtracking card to begin a gaming session and also timely tracks when auser removes their player tracking card, stops playing at the gamingtable or cashes out when concluding play for that gaming session. Inanother embodiment, the dealer or host logs the user in and out. In onesuch embodiment, at the start of a gaming session, the user hands theuser’s tracking card to the dealer and the dealer or host logs the userin and out for a gaming session. In different embodiments, the systemworks in accordance with the player tracking system to maintain dataabout users.

In other embodiments, rather than requiring a user to insert a playertracking card or enter identifying information, the gaming tableutilizes one or more portable devices carried by a user, such as a cellphone, email communication device, a radio frequency identification tagor any other suitable wireless device to track when a user begins andends a gaming session. In other embodiments, the gaming table utilizesany suitable biometric technology or ticket technology to track when auser begins and ends a gaming session. Each of the gaming tables mayinclude any suitable number of player tracking input devices, such ascard readers or key pads to enter identification numbers. In oneembodiment, each user station or seat includes an individual playertracking input device. In another embodiment, a gaming table includes asingle player tracking input device. In another embodiment, only adealer has access to the player tracking input device and inputs all ofeach user’s information.

It should be appreciated that the intelligent table system of thepresent disclosure may include any suitable components or devices tomonitor the users’ gaming activity. That is, the intelligent tablesystems tracks how much a user wagers or how many gaming chips a userwagers, how much a user has won or lost, how many gaming chips the userhas on the gaming table, or any other desired tracking information. Inone embodiment, the intelligent table system also tracks thisinformation for each and every game played by the user. It should beappreciated that the intelligent table system may include any suitablegaming table areas with gaming chip identification devices, any suitablemethod of identifying the gaming chips, and may use any suitable gamingchip reading technology.

In one embodiment, the intelligent gaming tables or gaming chip trackingsystems tracks, monitors and records game play occurring at one or moregaming table user stations, regardless of which user is currentlyplaying at each gaming station. In another embodiment, the intelligentgaming tables or gaming chip tracking systems tracks, monitors andrecords game play of one or more users at such gaming tables. In thisembodiment, the player tracking system identifies users and records orsaves the game play information provided by the intelligent tables inspecific user accounts.

In another embodiment, the intelligent gaming table of the presentdisclosure employs a virtual gaming table. The virtual gaming tableprovide virtual playing cards and/or virtual gaming chips which enableone or more users to play one or more games at the intelligent gamingtable. In one embodiment, such virtual gaming tables can utilize one ormore surface computing mechanisms, one or more cameras and one or moreof a plurality of display devices to provide these games. In one suchembodiment, an intelligent gaming table includes an acrylic top andemploys a plurality of infrared cameras and a DLP projector withwireless networks to display and detect objects and movement. In thisembodiment, as users move their hands or objects on the table top, thecameras translate the motions into commands.

It should be appreciated that values may be assigned to gaming chips inany suitable manner. In one embodiment, different denominations ofgaming chips are visually different, such as having the value displayedon the gaming chip, having different sizes and/or having differentweights. In another such embodiment, each gaming chip is associated withone of a plurality of different values. In this embodiment, theintelligent table system identifies the individual gaming chips (such asusing RFID technology described herein), determines the placement ofeach gaming chip and sends the information to the player tracking systemor central controller about each of the specific gaming chips. In oneembodiment, the central server associates the value of the gaming chipwith the player tracking account.

In one embodiment, each of the gaming chips has or is associated with anidentification number. The intelligent table system determines thegaming chip identification number upon play or win of a gaming chip orupon the evaluation of all of the gaming chips in a user’s gaming chipidentification area. The intelligent table system sends the gaming chipinformation to the central server. The system associates the gaming chipnumber with the amount and the user. For example, a first user’s gamingchip identification area includes gaming chip number 876543 which isassociated with the value of $1, gaming chip number 876545 which isassociated with the value of $5 and gaming chip number 876547 which isassociated with the value of $10. In one embodiment, the intelligenttable system determines which gaming chips are in which identificationarea and sends the information to the central server. The systemassociates the gaming chip numbers with their value and uses theinformation to determine one or more aspects of game play.

The intelligent table system of the present disclosure is operable touse a variety of types of technology to track user activity. Morespecifically, in one embodiment, the intelligent table system isoperable to include one or more gaming chip identifying devices. In oneembodiment, the intelligent table system uses Infra-red signals receivedfrom table game gaming chips to track activity. In another embodiment,as indicated above, the intelligent table system employs RFID to trackgaming chip activity. The RFID is a system that uses a small electronicdevice that includes a small gaming chip and an antenna. The gamingchips are scanned at the gaming table to retrieve the identifyinginformation. In another embodiment, the system uses optical technology.The system may use any suitable other gaming chip identificationdevices, which may use any suitable gaming chip identificationtechnology, to determine user gaming table wagering activities. Thegaming chips are tracked for total gaming chip movement or wins andlosses. When each gaming chip is placed in a gaming chip identificationarea, such as a betting circle or in a user’s betting or wagering area,gaming chip identification devices recognizes the gaming chip and relaysthis data to the intelligent table system.

The system of the present disclosure contemplates a plurality ofdifferent methods that the gaming chips may be used and/or identifiedduring game play. In one embodiment, a gaming chip identification areais a gaming chip holding area. In one embodiment, intelligent tablesystem identifies all of the gaming chips in a user’s gaming chipholding area. For example, during game play, a user is required to haveall gaming chips in that user’s possession in a gaming chip holding areawhich each include one or more gaming chip identification devices. Upona game play checkpoint, such as at a designated time interval, upon atriggering event, at the end of a play of a game or at the end of agaming session, the intelligent table system surveys each of the user’sgaming chip holding areas to identify the users’ gaming chips.

In one embodiment, the gaming chip identification area is a wageringarea. In one embodiment, the system includes gaming chip identificationdevices in each user’s wagering area. The system identifies either thespecific gaming chips wagered and won or loss by that user or the numberof gaming chips wagered and won or loss by the user. For example, a userlogs into the player tracking system via a card slot at the user’s userstation at a gaming table. When a user places a gaming chip in thewagering area associated with that user station, the intelligent tablesystem identifies that gaming chip. When a dealer or host provides agaming chip to a user for a win, the intelligent table system identifiesthe gaming chip.

In another embodiment, both the gaming chip holding area and thewagering area include gaming chip identification devices. That is, thesystem is operable to identify gaming chips in both the gaming chipholding area and the wagering area. Therefore, the system double checksor verifies each user’s gaming activity.

In one embodiment, the system associates the gaming activity directlywith users via user accounts. For example, at the start of play, theuser logs into the player tracking system, such as by inserting a playertracking card into a card reader associated with their user station onthe gaming table. In this embodiment, the intelligent table systemassociates any tracked data with the user’s specific account. Thus, incertain embodiments, tracking user activity at the gaming table issimilar in accuracy and thoroughness to the tracking done at slotmachines.

Alternatively, the system determines the gaming chip count at each userstation. That is, the system enables users to play anonymously and beassociated with their current place at the table. For example, a userdoes not have to log in for one or more plays of a game but ratherremains at a same user station for such plays of the game. The systemassociates the gaming chips with the user stations.

In certain embodiments, the intelligent table system includes one ormore card readers or a card reading system. The card reading systemknows what card comes out of the shoe and is dealt to what user. In oneembodiment, the card reading system is a part of the intelligent tablesystem. In another embodiment, the card reading system is separate fromthe intelligent table system and in association with the intelligenttable system detects betting patterns and decisions to provide to theplayer tracking system. Such betting patterns and decisions may qualifythe user to win one or more bonus awards. The card reading system canalso reduce dealer error and or possible corruption by making sure thatthe users are paid properly for each and every hand. In certainembodiments, the intelligent table system knows the user cards, thedealer cards, and the bet, the intelligent table system is enabled todetermine correct payouts for each and every user at the gaming table.In certain embodiments, the system employs safeguards to make sure thecorrect payout is made. For example, the system can send a halt playsignal if an error is detected. It should be appreciated that indifferent embodiments the card reading system and the intelligent tablesystem are integrated with or included in one or more tracking systemsor player tracking systems.

EGM Components

In certain embodiments, the above-described embodiments of the presentdisclosure may be implemented in accordance with or in conjunction withan EGM.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example EGM 1000 and FIGS. 7A and 7Binclude two different example EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b. The EGMs 1000,2000 a, and 2000 b are merely example EGMs, and different EGMs may beimplemented using different combinations of the components shown in theEGMs 1000, 2000 a, and 2000 b. Although the below refers to EGMs, invarious embodiments personal devices may include some or all of thebelow components.

In these embodiments, the EGM 1000 includes a master gaming controller1012 configured to communicate with and to operate with a plurality ofperipheral devices 1022.

The master gaming controller 1012 includes at least one processor 1010.The at least one processor 1010 is any suitable processing device or setof processing devices, such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller-basedplatform, a suitable integrated circuit, or one or moreapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), configured to executesoftware enabling various configuration and reconfiguration tasks, suchas: (1) communicating with a remote source (such as a server that storesauthentication information or game information) via a communicationinterface 1006 of the master gaming controller 1012; (2) convertingsignals read by an interface to a format corresponding to that used bysoftware or memory of the EGM; (3) accessing memory to configure orreconfigure game parameters in the memory according to indicia read fromthe EGM; (4) communicating with interfaces and the peripheral devices1022 (such as input/output devices); and/or (5) controlling theperipheral devices 1022. In certain embodiments, one or more componentsof the master gaming controller 1012 (such as the at least one processor1010) reside within a housing of the EGM (described below), while inother embodiments at least one component of the master gaming controller1012 resides outside of the housing of the EGM.

The master gaming controller 1012 also includes at least one memorydevice 1016, which includes: (1) volatile memory (e.g., RAM 1009, whichcan include non-volatile RAM, magnetic RAM, ferroelectric RAM, and anyother suitable forms); (2) non-volatile memory 1019 (e.g., disk memory,FLASH memory, EPROMs, EEPROMs, memristor-based non-volatile solid-statememory, etc.); (3) unalterable memory (e.g., EPROMs 1008); (4) read-onlymemory; and/or (5) a secondary memory storage device 1015, such as anon-volatile memory device, configured to store gaming software relatedinformation (the gaming software related information and the memory maybe used to store various audio files and games not currently being usedand invoked in a configuration or reconfiguration). Any other suitablemagnetic, optical, and/or semiconductor memory may operate inconjunction with the EGM. In certain embodiments, the at least onememory device 1016 resides within the housing of the EGM (describedbelow), while in other embodiments at least one component of the atleast one memory device 1016 resides outside of the housing of the EGM.

The at least one memory device 1016 is configured to store, for example:(1) configuration software 1014, such as all the parameters and settingsfor a game playable on the EGM; (2) associations 1018 betweenconfiguration indicia read from an EGM with one or more parameters andsettings; (3) communication protocols configured to enable the at leastone processor 1010 to communicate with the peripheral devices 1022;and/or (4) communication transport protocols (such as TCP/IP, USB,Firewire, IEEE1394, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11x (IEEE 802.11 standards),hiperlan/2, HomeRF, etc.) configured to enable the EGM to communicatewith local and non-local devices using such protocols. In oneimplementation, the master gaming controller 1012 communicates withother devices using a serial communication protocol. A few non-limitingexamples of serial communication protocols that other devices, such asperipherals (e.g., a bill validator or a ticket printer), may use tocommunicate with the master game controller 1012 include USB, RS-232,and Netplex (a proprietary protocol developed by IGT).

In certain embodiments, the at least one memory device 1016 isconfigured to store program code and instructions executable by the atleast one processor of the EGM to control the EGM. The at least onememory device 1016 of the EGM also stores other operating data, such asimage data, event data, input data, random number generators (RNGs) orpseudo-RNGs, paytable data or information, and/or applicable game rulesthat relate to the play of one or more games on the EGM. In variousembodiments, part or all of the program code and/or the operating datadescribed above is stored in at least one detachable or removable memorydevice including, but not limited to, a cartridge, a disk, a CD ROM, aDVD, a USB memory device, or any other suitable non-transitory computerreadable medium. In certain such embodiments, an operator (such as agaming establishment operator) and/or a player uses such a removablememory device in an EGM to implement at least part of the presentdisclosure. In other embodiments, part or all of the program code and/orthe operating data is downloaded to the at least one memory device ofthe EGM through any suitable data network described above (such as anInternet or intranet).

The at least one memory device 1016 also stores a plurality of devicedrivers 1042. Examples of different types of device drivers includedevice drivers for EGM components and device drivers for the peripheralcomponents 1022. Typically, the device drivers 1042 utilize variouscommunication protocols that enable communication with a particularphysical device. The device driver abstracts the hardware implementationof that device. For example, a device driver may be written for eachtype of card reader that could potentially be connected to the EGM.Non-limiting examples of communication protocols used to implement thedevice drivers include Netplex, USB, Serial, Ethernet 175, Firewire, I/Odebouncer, direct memory map, serial, PCI, parallel, RF, Bluetooth™,near-field communications (e.g., using near-field magnetics), 802.11(WiFi), etc. In one embodiment, when one type of a particular device isexchanged for another type of the particular device, the at least oneprocessor of the EGM loads the new device driver from the at least onememory device to enable communication with the new device. For instance,one type of card reader in the EGM can be replaced with a seconddifferent type of card reader when device drivers for both card readersare stored in the at least one memory device.

In certain embodiments, the software units stored in the at least onememory device 1016 can be upgraded as needed. For instance, when the atleast one memory device 1016 is a hard drive, new games, new gameoptions, new parameters, new settings for existing parameters, newsettings for new parameters, new device drivers, and new communicationprotocols can be uploaded to the at least one memory device 1016 fromthe master game controller 1012 or from some other external device. Asanother example, when the at least one memory device 1016 includes aCD/DVD drive including a CD/DVD configured to store game options,parameters, and settings, the software stored in the at least one memorydevice 1016 can be upgraded by replacing a first CD/DVD with a secondCD/DVD. In yet another example, when the at least one memory device 1016uses flash memory 1019 or EPROM 1008 units configured to store games,game options, parameters, and settings, the software stored in the flashand/or EPROM memory units can be upgraded by replacing one or morememory units with new memory units that include the upgraded software.In another embodiment, one or more of the memory devices, such as thehard drive, may be employed in a game software download process from aremote software server.

In some embodiments, the at least one memory device 1016 also storesauthentication and/or validation components 1044 configured toauthenticate/validate specified EGM components and/or information, suchas hardware components, software components, firmware components,peripheral device components, user input device components, informationreceived from one or more user input devices, information stored in theat least one memory device 1016, etc.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentdisclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any of a number ofpatentable classes or context including any new and useful process,machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and usefulimprovement thereof. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure maybe implemented entirely hardware, entirely software (including firmware,resident software, microcode, etc.) or combining software and hardwareimplementation that may all generally be referred to herein as a“circuit,” “module,” “component,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects ofthe present disclosure may take the form of a computer program productembodied in one or more computer readable media having computer readableprogram code embodied thereon.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent disclosure may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Scala, Smalltalk, Eiffel, JADE, Emerald, C++, C#, VB.NET,Python or the like, conventional procedural programming languages, suchas the “C” programming language, Visual Basic, Fortran 2003, Perl, COBOL2002, PHP, ABAP, dynamic programming languages such as Python, Ruby andGroovy, or other programming languages. The program code may executeentirely on the user’s computer, partly on the user’s computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user’s computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user’scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider) or in a cloud computing environment or offered as aservice such as a Software as a Service (SaaS).

Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatuses(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of thedisclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable instruction executionapparatus, create a mechanism for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that when executed can direct a computer, otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function ina particular manner, such that the instructions when stored in thecomputer readable medium produce an article of manufacture includinginstructions which when executed, cause a computer to implement thefunction/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable instruction execution apparatus, or otherdevices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on thecomputer, other programmable apparatuses or other devices to produce acomputer implemented process such that the instructions which execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

In certain embodiments, the peripheral devices 1022 include severaldevice interfaces, such as: (1) at least one output device 1020including at least one display device 1035; (2) at least one inputdevice 1030 (which may include contact and/or non-contact interfaces);(3) at least one transponder 1054; (4) at least one wirelesscommunication component 1056; (5) at least one wired/wireless powerdistribution component 1058; (6) at least one sensor 1060; (7) at leastone data preservation component 1062; (8) at least one motion/gestureanalysis and interpretation component 1064; (9) at least one motiondetection component 1066; (10) at least one portable power source 1068;(11) at least one geolocation module 1076; (12) at least one useridentification module 1077; (13) at least one player/device trackingmodule 1078; and (14) at least one information filtering module 1079.

The at least one output device 1020 includes at least one display device1035 configured to display any game(s) displayed by the EGM and anysuitable information associated with such game(s). In certainembodiments, the display devices are connected to or mounted on ahousing of the EGM (described below). In various embodiments, thedisplay devices serve as digital glass configured to advertise certaingames or other aspects of the gaming establishment in which the EGM islocated. In various embodiments, the EGM includes one or more of thefollowing display devices: (a) a central display device; (b) a playertracking display configured to display various information regarding aplayer’s player tracking status (as described below); (c) a secondary orupper display device in addition to the central display device and theplayer tracking display; (d) a credit display configured to display acurrent quantity of credits, amount of cash, account balance, or theequivalent; and (e) a bet display configured to display an amountwagered for one or more plays of one or more games. The example EGM 2000a illustrated in FIG. 7A includes a central display device 2116, aplayer tracking display 2140, a credit display 2120, and a bet display2122. The example EGM 2000 b illustrated in FIG. 7B includes a centraldisplay device 2116, an upper display device 2118, a player trackingdisplay 2140, a credit display 2120, and a bet display 2122.

In various embodiments, the display devices include, without limitation:a monitor, a television display, a plasma display, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a display based on light emitting diodes (LEDs), adisplay based on a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), adisplay based on polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display basedon a plurality of surface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a displayincluding a projected and/or reflected image, or any other suitableelectronic device or display mechanism. In certain embodiments, asdescribed above, the display device includes a touch-screen with anassociated touch-screen controller. The display devices may be of anysuitable sizes, shapes, and configurations.

The display devices of the EGM are configured to display one or moregame and/or non-game images, symbols, and indicia. In certainembodiments, the display devices of the EGM are configured to displayany suitable visual representation or exhibition of the movement ofobjects; dynamic lighting; video images; images of people, characters,places, things, and faces of cards; and the like. In certainembodiments, the display devices of the EGM are configured to displayone or more video reels, one or more video wheels, and/or one or morevideo dice. In other embodiments, certain of the displayed images,symbols, and indicia are in mechanical form. That is, in theseembodiments, the display device includes any electromechanical device,such as one or more rotatable wheels, one or more reels, and/or one ormore dice, configured to display at least one or a plurality of game orother suitable images, symbols, or indicia.

In various embodiments, the at least one output device 1020 includes apayout device. In these embodiments, after the EGM receives an actuationof a cashout device (described below), the EGM causes the payout deviceto provide a payment to the player. In one embodiment, the payout deviceis one or more of: (a) a ticket printer and dispenser configured toprint and dispense a ticket or credit slip associated with a monetaryvalue, wherein the ticket or credit slip may be redeemed for itsmonetary value via a cashier, a kiosk, or other suitable redemptionsystem; (b) a bill dispenser configured to dispense paper currency; (c)a coin dispenser configured to dispense coins or tokens (such as into acoin payout tray); and (d) any suitable combination thereof. The exampleEGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B each include aticket printer and dispenser 2136.

In certain embodiments, rather than dispensing bills, coins, or aphysical ticket having a monetary value to the player following receiptof an actuation of the cashout device, the payout device is configuredto cause a payment to be provided to the player in the form of anelectronic funds transfer, such as via a direct deposit into a bankaccount, a casino account, or a prepaid account of the player; via atransfer of funds onto an electronically recordable identification cardor smart card of the player; or via sending a virtual ticket having amonetary value to an electronic device of the player.

While any credit balances, any wagers, any values, and any awards aredescribed herein as amounts of monetary credits or currency, one or moreof such credit balances, such wagers, such values, and such awards maybe for non-monetary credits, promotional credits, of player trackingpoints or credits.

In certain embodiments, the at least one output device 1020 is a soundgenerating device controlled by one or more sound cards. In one suchembodiment, the sound generating device includes one or more speakers orother sound generating hardware and/or software configured to generatesounds, such as by playing music for any games or by playing music forother modes of the EGM, such as an attract mode. The example EGMs 2000 aand 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B each include a plurality ofspeakers 2150. In another such embodiment, the EGM provides dynamicsounds coupled with attractive multimedia images displayed on one ormore of the display devices to provide an audio-visual representation orto otherwise display full-motion video with sound to attract players tothe EGM. In certain embodiments, the EGM displays a sequence of audioand/or visual attraction messages during idle periods to attractpotential players to the EGM. The videos may be customized to provideany appropriate information.

The at least one input device 1030 may include any suitable device thatenables an input signal to be produced and received by the at least oneprocessor 1010 of the EGM.

In one embodiment, the at least one input device 1030 includes a paymentdevice configured to communicate with the at least one processor of theEGM to fund the EGM. In certain embodiments, the payment device includesone or more of: (a) a bill acceptor into which paper money is insertedto fund the EGM; (b) a ticket acceptor into which a ticket or a voucheris inserted to fund the EGM; (c) a coin slot into which coins or tokensare inserted to fund the EGM; (d) a reader or a validator for creditcards, debit cards, or credit slips into which a credit card, debitcard, or credit slip is inserted to fund the EGM; (e) a playeridentification card reader into which a player identification card isinserted to fund the EGM; or (f) any suitable combination thereof. Theexample EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B eachinclude a combined bill and ticket acceptor 2128 and a coin slot 2126.

In one embodiment, the at least one input device 1030 includes a paymentdevice configured to enable the EGM to be funded via an electronic fundstransfer, such as a transfer of funds from a bank account. In anotherembodiment, the EGM includes a payment device configured to communicatewith a mobile device of a player, such as a mobile phone, a radiofrequency identification tag, or any other suitable wired or wirelessdevice, to retrieve relevant information associated with that player tofund the EGM. When the EGM is funded, the at least one processordetermines the amount of funds entered and displays the correspondingamount on a credit display or any other suitable display as describedbelow.

In certain embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes atleast one wagering or betting device. In various embodiments, the one ormore wagering or betting devices are each: (1) a mechanical buttonsupported by the housing of the EGM (such as a hard key or aprogrammable soft key), or (2) an icon displayed on a display device ofthe EGM (described below) that is actuatable via a touch screen of theEGM (described below) or via use of a suitable input device of the EGM(such as a mouse or a joystick). One such wagering or betting device isas a maximum wager or bet device that, when actuated, causes the EGM toplace a maximum wager on a play of a game. Another such wagering orbetting device is a repeat bet device that, when actuated, causes theEGM to place a wager that is equal to the previously-placed wager on aplay of a game. A further such wagering or betting device is a bet onedevice that, when actuated, causes the EGM to increase the wager by onecredit. Generally, upon actuation of one of the wagering or bettingdevices, the quantity of credits displayed in a credit meter (describedbelow) decreases by the amount of credits wagered, while the quantity ofcredits displayed in a bet display (described below) increases by theamount of credits wagered.

In various embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes atleast one game play activation device. In various embodiments, the oneor more game play initiation devices are each: (1) a mechanical buttonsupported by the housing of the EGM (such as a hard key or aprogrammable soft key), or (2) an icon displayed on a display device ofthe EGM (described below) that is actuatable via a touch screen of theEGM (described below) or via use of a suitable input device of the EGM(such as a mouse or a joystick). After a player appropriately funds theEGM and places a wager, the EGM activates the game play activationdevice to enable the player to actuate the game play activation deviceto initiate a play of a game on the EGM (or another suitable sequence ofevents associated with the EGM). After the EGM receives an actuation ofthe game play activation device, the EGM initiates the play of the game.The example EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B eachinclude a game play activation device in the form of a game playinitiation button 2132. In other embodiments, the EGM begins game playautomatically upon appropriate funding rather than upon utilization ofthe game play activation device.

In other embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes acashout device. In various embodiments, the cashout device is: (1) amechanical button supported by the housing of the EGM (such as a hardkey or a programmable soft key), or (2) an icon displayed on a displaydevice of the EGM (described below) that is actuatable via a touchscreen of the EGM (described below) or via use of a suitable inputdevice of the EGM (such as a mouse or a joystick). When the EGM receivesan actuation of the cashout device from a player and the player has apositive (i.e., greater-than-zero) credit balance, the EGM initiates apayout associated with the player’s credit balance. The example EGMs2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B each include a cashoutdevice in the form of a cashout button 2134.

In various embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes aplurality of buttons that are programmable by the EGM operator to, whenactuated, cause the EGM to perform particular functions. For instance,such buttons may be hard keys, programmable soft keys, or icons icondisplayed on a display device of the EGM (described below) that areactuatable via a touch screen of the EGM (described below) or via use ofa suitable input device of the EGM (such as a mouse or a joystick). Theexample EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B eachinclude a plurality of such buttons 2130.

In certain embodiments, the at least one input device 1030 includes atouch-screen coupled to a touch-screen controller or othertouch-sensitive display overlay to enable interaction with any imagesdisplayed on a display device (as described below). One such inputdevice is a conventional touch-screen button panel. The touch-screen andthe touch-screen controller are connected to a video controller. Inthese embodiments, signals are input to the EGM by touching the touchscreen at the appropriate locations.

In embodiments including a player tracking system, as further describedbelow, the at least one input device 1030 includes a card reader incommunication with the at least one processor of the EGM. The exampleEGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B each include acard reader 2138. The card reader is configured to read a playeridentification card inserted into the card reader.

The at least one wireless communication component 1056 includes one ormore communication interfaces having different architectures andutilizing a variety of protocols, such as (but not limited to) 802.11(WiFi); 802.15 (including Bluetooth™); 802.16 (WiMax); 802.22; cellularstandards such as CDMA, CDMA2000, and WCDMA; Radio Frequency (e.g.,RFID); infrared; and Near Field Magnetic communication protocols. The atleast one wireless communication component 1056 transmits electrical,electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digital data streams oranalog signals representing various types of information.

The at least one wired/wireless power distribution component 1058includes components or devices that are configured to provide power toother devices. For example, in one embodiment, the at least one powerdistribution component 1058 includes a magnetic induction system that isconfigured to provide wireless power to one or more user input devicesnear the EGM. In one embodiment, a user input device docking region isprovided, and includes a power distribution component that is configuredto recharge a user input device without requiring metal-to-metalcontact. In one embodiment, the at least one power distributioncomponent 1058 is configured to distribute power to one or more internalcomponents of the EGM, such as one or more rechargeable power sources(e.g., rechargeable batteries) located at the EGM.

In certain embodiments, the at least one sensor 1060 includes at leastone of: optical sensors, pressure sensors, RF sensors, infrared sensors,image sensors, thermal sensors, and biometric sensors. The at least onesensor 1060 may be used for a variety of functions, such as: detectingmovements and/or gestures of various objects within a predeterminedproximity to the EGM; detecting the presence and/or identity of variouspersons (e.g., players, casino employees, etc.), devices (e.g., userinput devices), and/or systems within a predetermined proximity to theEGM.

The at least one data preservation component 1062 is configured todetect or sense one or more events and/or conditions that, for example,may result in damage to the EGM and/or that may result in loss ofinformation associated with the EGM. Additionally, the data preservationsystem 1062 may be operable to initiate one or more appropriateaction(s) in response to the detection of such events/conditions.

The at least one motion/gesture analysis and interpretation component1064 is configured to analyze and/or interpret information relating todetected player movements and/or gestures to determine appropriateplayer input information relating to the detected player movementsand/or gestures. For example, in one embodiment, the at least onemotion/gesture analysis and interpretation component 1064 is configuredto perform one or more of the following functions: analyze the detectedgross motion or gestures of a player; interpret the player’s motion orgestures (e.g., in the context of a casino game being played) toidentify instructions or input from the player; utilize the interpretedinstructions/input to advance the game state; etc. In other embodiments,at least a portion of these additional functions may be implemented at aremote system or device.

The at least one portable power source 1068 enables the EGM to operatein a mobile environment. For example, in one embodiment, the EGM 1000includes one or more rechargeable batteries.

The at least one geolocation module 1076 is configured to acquiregeolocation information from one or more remote sources and use theacquired geolocation information to determine information relating to arelative and/or absolute position of the EGM. For example, in oneimplementation, the at least one geolocation module 1076 is configuredto receive GPS signal information for use in determining the position orlocation of the EGM. In another implementation, the at least onegeolocation module 1076 is configured to receive multiple wirelesssignals from multiple remote devices (e.g., EGMs, servers, wirelessaccess points, etc.) and use the signal information to computeposition/location information relating to the position or location ofthe EGM.

The at least one user identification module 1077 is configured todetermine the identity of the current user or current owner of the EGM.For example, in one embodiment, the current user is required to performa login process at the EGM in order to access one or more features.Alternatively, the EGM is configured to automatically determine theidentity of the current user based on one or more external signals, suchas an RFID tag or badge worn by the current user and that provides awireless signal to the EGM that is used to determine the identity of thecurrent user. In at least one embodiment, various security features areincorporated into the EGM to prevent unauthorized users from accessingconfidential or sensitive information.

The at least one information filtering module 1079 is configured toperform filtering (e.g., based on specified criteria) of selectedinformation to be displayed at one or more displays 1035 of the EGM.

In various embodiments, the EGM includes a plurality of communicationports configured to enable the at least one processor of the EGM tocommunicate with and to operate with external peripherals, such as:accelerometers, arcade sticks, bar code readers, bill validators,biometric input devices, bonus devices, button panels, card readers,coin dispensers, coin hoppers, display screens or other displays orvideo sources, expansion buses, information panels, keypads, lights,mass storage devices, microphones, motion sensors, motors, printers,reels, SCSI ports, solenoids, speakers, thumbsticks, ticket readers,touch screens, trackballs, touchpads, wheels, and wireless communicationdevices.

As generally described above, in certain embodiments, such as theexample EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the EGMhas a support structure, housing, or cabinet that provides support for aplurality of the input devices and the output devices of the EGM.Further, the EGM is configured such that a player may operate it whilestanding or sitting. In various embodiments, the EGM is positioned on abase or stand, or is configured as a pub-style tabletop game (not shown)that a player may operate typically while sitting. As illustrated by thedifferent example EGMs 2000 a and 2000 b shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, EGMsmay have varying housing and display configurations.

In certain embodiments, the EGM is a device that has obtained approvalfrom a regulatory gaming commission, and in other embodiments, the EGMis a device that has not obtained approval from a regulatory gamingcommission.

The EGMs described above are merely three examples of different types ofEGMs. Certain of these example EGMs may include one or more elementsthat may not be included in all EGMs, and these example EGMs may notinclude one or more elements that are included in other EGMs. Forexample, certain EGMs include a coin acceptor while others do not.

Differentiating Certain Gaming Devices from General Purpose ComputingDevices

It should be appreciated that certain of the gaming devices (e.g., EGMsand/or gaming table components) include certain components and/or areconfigured to operate in certain manners that differentiate thesesystems from general purpose computing devices (i.e., certain personaldevices such as desktop computers and laptop computers).

For instance, EGMs are highly regulated to ensure fairness and, in manycases, EGMs are configured to award monetary awards up to multiplemillions of dollars. To satisfy security and regulatory requirements ina gaming environment, hardware and/or software architectures areimplemented in EGMs that differ significantly from those of generalpurpose computing devices. For purposes of illustration, a descriptionof EGMs relative to general purpose computing devices and some examplesof these additional (or different) hardware and/or softwarearchitectures found in EGMs are described below.

At first glance, one might think that adapting general purpose computingdevice technologies to the gaming industry and EGMs would be a simpleproposition because both general purpose computing devices and EGMsemploy processors that control a variety of devices. However, due to atleast: (1) the regulatory requirements placed on EGMs, (2) the harshenvironment in which EGMs operate, (3) security requirements, and (4)fault tolerance requirements, adapting general purpose computing devicetechnologies to EGMs can be quite difficult. Further, techniques andmethods for solving a problem in the general purpose computing deviceindustry, such as device compatibility and connectivity issues, mightnot be adequate in the gaming industry. For instance, a fault or aweakness tolerated in a general purpose computing device, such assecurity holes in software or frequent crashes, is not tolerated in anEGM because in an EGM these faults can lead to a direct loss of fundsfrom the EGM, such as stolen cash or loss of revenue when the EGM is notoperating properly or when the random outcome determination ismanipulated.

Certain differences between general purpose computing devices and EGMsare described below. A first difference between EGMs and general purposecomputing devices is that EGMs are state-based systems. A state-basedsystem stores and maintains its current state in a non-volatile memorysuch that, in the event of a power failure or other malfunction, thestate-based system can return to that state when the power is restoredor the malfunction is remedied. For instance, for a state-based EGM, ifthe EGM displays an award for a game of chance but the power to the EGMfails before the EGM provides the award to the player, the EGM storesthe pre-power failure state in a non-volatile memory, returns to thatstate upon restoration of power, and provides the award to the player.This requirement affects the software and hardware design on EGMs.General purpose computing devices are not state-based machines, and amajority of data is usually lost when a malfunction occurs on a generalpurpose computing device.

A second difference between EGMs and general purpose computing devicesis that, for regulatory purposes, the software on the EGM utilized tooperate the EGM has been designed to be static and monolithic to preventcheating by the operator of the EGM. For instance, one solution that hasbeen employed in the gaming industry to prevent cheating and to satisfyregulatory requirements has been to manufacture an EGM that can use aproprietary processor running instructions to provide the game of chancefrom an EPROM or other form of non-volatile memory. The codinginstructions on the EPROM are static (non-changeable) and must beapproved by a gaming regulators in a particular jurisdiction andinstalled in the presence of a person representing the gamingjurisdiction. Any changes to any part of the software required togenerate the game of chance, such as adding a new device driver used tooperate a device during generation of the game of chance, can requireburning a new EPROM approved by the gaming jurisdiction and reinstallingthe new EPROM on the EGM in the presence of a gaming regulator.Regardless of whether the EPROM solution is used, to gain approval inmost gaming jurisdictions, an EGM must demonstrate sufficient safeguardsthat prevent an operator or a player of an EGM from manipulating theEGM’s hardware and software in a manner that gives him an unfair, and insome cases illegal, advantage.

A third difference between EGMs and general purpose computing devices isauthentication-EGMs storing code are configured to authenticate the codeto determine if the code is unaltered before executing the code. If thecode has been altered, the EGM prevents the code from being executed.The code authentication requirements in the gaming industry affect bothhardware and software designs on EGMs. Certain EGMs use hash functionsto authenticate code. For instance, one EGM stores game program code, ahash function, and an authentication hash (which may be encrypted).Before executing the game program code, the EGM hashes the game programcode using the hash function to obtain a result hash and compares theresult hash to the authentication hash. If the result hash matches theauthentication hash, the EGM determines that the game program code isvalid and executes the game program code. If the result hash does notmatch the authentication hash, the EGM determines that the game programcode has been altered (i.e., may have been tampered with) and preventsexecution of the game program code.

A fourth difference between EGMs and general purpose computing devicesis that EGMs have unique peripheral device requirements that differ fromthose of a general purpose computing device, such as peripheral devicesecurity requirements not usually addressed by general purpose computingdevices. For instance, monetary devices, such as coin dispensers, billvalidators, and ticket printers and computing devices that are used togovern the input and output of cash or other items having monetary value(such as tickets) to and from an EGM have security requirements that arenot typically addressed in general purpose computing devices. Therefore,many general purpose computing device techniques and methods developedto facilitate device connectivity and device compatibility do notaddress the emphasis placed on security in the gaming industry.

To address some of the issues described above, a number ofhardware/software components and architectures are utilized in EGMs thatare not typically found in general purpose computing devices. Thesehardware/software components and architectures, as described below inmore detail, include but are not limited to watchdog timers, voltagemonitoring systems, state-based software architecture and supportinghardware, specialized communication interfaces, security monitoring, andtrusted memory.

Certain EGMs use a watchdog timer to provide a software failuredetection mechanism. In a normally-operating EGM, the operating softwareperiodically accesses control registers in the watchdog timer subsystemto “re-trigger” the watchdog. Should the operating software fail toaccess the control registers within a preset timeframe, the watchdogtimer will timeout and generate a system reset. Typical watchdog timercircuits include a loadable timeout counter register to enable theoperating software to set the timeout interval within a certain range oftime. A differentiating feature of some circuits is that the operatingsoftware cannot completely disable the function of the watchdog timer.In other words, the watchdog timer always functions from the time poweris applied to the board.

Certain EGMs use several power supply voltages to operate portions ofthe computer circuitry. These can be generated in a central power supplyor locally on the computer board. If any of these voltages falls out ofthe tolerance limits of the circuitry they power, unpredictableoperation of the EGM may result. Though most modern general purposecomputing devices include voltage monitoring circuitry, these types ofcircuits only report voltage status to the operating software. Out oftolerance voltages can cause software malfunction, creating a potentialuncontrolled condition in the general purpose computing device. CertainEGMs have power supplies with relatively tighter voltage margins thanthat required by the operating circuitry. In addition, the voltagemonitoring circuitry implemented in certain EGMs typically has twothresholds of control. The first threshold generates a software eventthat can be detected by the operating software and an error conditionthen generated. This threshold is triggered when a power supply voltagefalls out of the tolerance range of the power supply, but is stillwithin the operating range of the circuitry. The second threshold is setwhen a power supply voltage falls out of the operating tolerance of thecircuitry. In this case, the circuitry generates a reset, haltingoperation of the EGM.

As described above, certain EGMs are state-based machines. Differentfunctions of the game provided by the EGM (e.g., bet, play, result,points in the graphical presentation, etc.) may be defined as a state.When the EGM moves a game from one state to another, the EGM storescritical data regarding the game software in a custom non-volatilememory subsystem. This ensures that the player’s wager and credits arepreserved and to minimize potential disputes in the event of amalfunction on the EGM. In general, the EGM does not advance from afirst state to a second state until critical information that enablesthe first state to be reconstructed has been stored. This featureenables the EGM to recover operation to the current state of play in theevent of a malfunction, loss of power, etc. that occurred just beforethe malfunction. In at least one embodiment, the EGM is configured tostore such critical information using atomic transactions.

Generally, an atomic operation in computer science refers to a set ofoperations that can be combined so that they appear to the rest of thesystem to be a single operation with only two possible outcomes: successor failure. As related to data storage, an atomic transaction may becharacterized as series of database operations which either all occur,or all do not occur. A guarantee of atomicity prevents updates to thedatabase occurring only partially, which can result in data corruption.

To ensure the success of atomic transactions relating to criticalinformation to be stored in the EGM memory before a failure event (e.g.,malfunction, loss of power, etc.), memory that includes one or more ofthe following criteria be used: direct memory access capability; dataread/write capability which meets or exceeds minimum read/write accesscharacteristics (such as at least 5.08 Mbytes/sec (Read) and/or at least38.0 Mbytes/sec (Write)). Memory devices that meet or exceed the abovecriteria may be referred to as “fault-tolerant” memory devices.

Typically, battery-backed RAM devices may be configured to function asfault-tolerant devices according to the above criteria, whereas flashRAM and/or disk drive memory are typically not configurable to functionas fault-tolerant devices according to the above criteria. Accordingly,battery-backed RAM devices are typically used to preserve EGM criticaldata, although other types of non-volatile memory devices may beemployed. These memory devices are typically not used in typical generalpurpose computing devices.

Thus, in at least one embodiment, the EGM is configured to storecritical information in fault-tolerant memory (e.g., battery-backed RAMdevices) using atomic transactions. Further, in at least one embodiment,the fault-tolerant memory is able to successfully complete all desiredatomic transactions (e.g., relating to the storage of EGM criticalinformation) within a time period of 200 milliseconds or less. In atleast one embodiment, the time period of 200 milliseconds represents amaximum amount of time for which sufficient power may be available tothe various EGM components after a power outage event has occurred atthe EGM.

As described previously, the EGM may not advance from a first state to asecond state until critical information that enables the first state tobe reconstructed has been atomically stored. After the state of the EGMis restored during the play of a game of chance, game play may resumeand the game may be completed in a manner that is no different than ifthe malfunction had not occurred. Thus, for example, when a malfunctionoccurs during a game of chance, the EGM may be restored to a state inthe game of chance just before when the malfunction occurred. Therestored state may include metering information and graphicalinformation that was displayed on the EGM in the state before themalfunction. For example, when the malfunction occurs during the play ofa card game after the cards have been dealt, the EGM may be restoredwith the cards that were previously displayed as part of the card game.As another example, a bonus game may be triggered during the play of agame of chance in which a player is required to make a number ofselections on a video display screen. When a malfunction has occurredafter the player has made one or more selections, the EGM may berestored to a state that shows the graphical presentation just beforethe malfunction including an indication of selections that have alreadybeen made by the player. In general, the EGM may be restored to anystate in a plurality of states that occur in the game of chance thatoccurs while the game of chance is played or to states that occurbetween the play of a game of chance.

Game history information regarding previous games played such as anamount wagered, the outcome of the game, and the like may also be storedin a non-volatile memory device. The information stored in thenon-volatile memory may be detailed enough to reconstruct a portion ofthe graphical presentation that was previously presented on the EGM andthe state of the EGM (e.g., credits) at the time the game of chance wasplayed. The game history information may be utilized in the event of adispute. For example, a player may decide that in a previous game ofchance that they did not receive credit for an award that they believedthey won. The game history information may be used to reconstruct thestate of the EGM before, during, and/or after the disputed game todemonstrate whether the player was correct or not in the player’sassertion.

Another feature of EGMs is that they often include unique interfaces,including serial interfaces, to connect to specific subsystems internaland external to the EGM. The serial devices may have electricalinterface requirements that differ from the “standard” EIA serialinterfaces provided by general purpose computing devices. Theseinterfaces may include, for example, Fiber Optic Serial, opticallycoupled serial interfaces, current loop style serial interfaces, etc. Inaddition, to conserve serial interfaces internally in the EGM, serialdevices may be connected in a shared, daisy-chain fashion in whichmultiple peripheral devices are connected to a single serial channel.

The serial interfaces may be used to transmit information usingcommunication protocols that are unique to the gaming industry. Forexample, IGT’s Netplex is a proprietary communication protocol used forserial communication between EGMs. As another example, SAS is acommunication protocol used to transmit information, such as meteringinformation, from an EGM to a remote device. Often SAS is used inconjunction with a player tracking system.

Certain EGMs may alternatively be treated as peripheral devices to acasino communication controller and connected in a shared daisy chainfashion to a single serial interface. In both cases, the peripheraldevices are assigned device addresses. If so, the serial controllercircuitry must implement a method to generate or detect unique deviceaddresses. General purpose computing device serial ports are not able todo this.

Security monitoring circuits detect intrusion into an EGM by monitoringsecurity switches attached to access doors in the EGM cabinet. Accessviolations result in suspension of game play and can trigger additionalsecurity operations to preserve the current state of game play. Thesecircuits also function when power is off by use of a battery backup. Inpower-off operation, these circuits continue to monitor the access doorsof the EGM. When power is restored, the EGM can determine whether anysecurity violations occurred while power was off, e.g., via software forreading status registers. This can trigger event log entries and furtherdata authentication operations by the EGM software.

Trusted memory devices and/or trusted memory sources are included in anEGM to ensure the authenticity of the software that may be stored onless secure memory subsystems, such as mass storage devices. Trustedmemory devices and controlling circuitry are typically designed to notenable modification of the code and data stored in the memory devicewhile the memory device is installed in the EGM. The code and datastored in these devices may include authentication algorithms, randomnumber generators, authentication keys, operating system kernels, etc.The purpose of these trusted memory devices is to provide gamingregulatory authorities a root trusted authority within the computingenvironment of the EGM that can be tracked and verified as original.This may be accomplished via removal of the trusted memory device fromthe EGM computer and verification of the secure memory device contentsis a separate third party verification device. Once the trusted memorydevice is verified as authentic, and based on the approval of theverification algorithms included in the trusted device, the EGM isenabled to verify the authenticity of additional code and data that maybe located in the gaming computer assembly, such as code and data storedon hard disk drives.

In at least one embodiment, at least a portion of the trusted memorydevices/sources may correspond to memory that cannot easily be altered(e.g., “unalterable memory”) such as EPROMS, PROMS, Bios, Extended Bios,and/or other memory sources that are able to be configured, verified,and/or authenticated (e.g., for authenticity) in a secure and controlledmanner.

According to one embodiment, when a trusted information source is incommunication with a remote device via a network, the remote device mayemploy a verification scheme to verify the identity of the trustedinformation source. For example, the trusted information source and theremote device may exchange information using public and privateencryption keys to verify each other’s identities. In anotherembodiment, the remote device and the trusted information source mayengage in methods using zero knowledge proofs to authenticate each oftheir respective identities.

EGMs storing trusted information may utilize apparatuses or methods todetect and prevent tampering. For instance, trusted information storedin a trusted memory device may be encrypted to prevent its misuse. Inaddition, the trusted memory device may be secured behind a locked door.Further, one or more sensors may be coupled to the memory device todetect tampering with the memory device and provide some record of thetampering. In yet another example, the memory device storing trustedinformation might be designed to detect tampering attempts and clear orerase itself when an attempt at tampering has been detected.

Mass storage devices used in a general purpose computing devicestypically enable code and data to be read from and written to the massstorage device. In a gaming environment, modification of the gaming codestored on a mass storage device is strictly controlled and would only beenabled under specific maintenance type events with electronic andphysical enablers required. Though this level of security could beprovided by software, EGMs that include mass storage devices includehardware level mass storage data protection circuitry that operates atthe circuit level to monitor attempts to modify data on the mass storagedevice and will generate both software and hardware error triggersshould a data modification be attempted without the proper electronicand physical enablers being present.

It should be appreciated that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to belimiting of the disclosure. For example, the singular forms “a”, “an”and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. In another example, the terms“including” and “comprising” and variations thereof, when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Additionally, a listing ofitems does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusivenor does a listing of items imply that any or all of the items arecollectively exhaustive of anything or in a particular order, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Moreover, as used herein, the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It should be further appreciated that headingsof sections provided in this document and the title are for convenienceonly, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.Furthermore, unless expressly specified otherwise, devices that are incommunication with each other need not be in continuous communicationwith each other and may communicate directly or indirectly through oneor more intermediaries.

Various changes and modifications to the present embodiments describedherein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, adescription of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required, orthat each of the disclosed components must communicate with every othercomponent. On the contrary a variety of optional components aredescribed to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of thepresent disclosure. As such, these changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended technical scope. It istherefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by theappended claims.

1. A system comprising: a processor; and a memory device that stores aplurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, causethe processor to: responsive to an approval of a request to access afirst amount of funds associated with a funding instrument prohibitedfrom being used to transfer funds directly to a credit balance of agaming device: cause a modification of a gaming establishment accountbased on the first amount of funds, and thereafter, cause an automatictransfer of a second amount of funds to the credit balance of the gamingdevice.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the funding instrumentcomprises a credit card associated with an external funding source. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein data associated with the request toaccess the first amount of funds associated with the fund instrument isreceived from a mobile device executing a mobile device application. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming device comprises a electronicgaming machine.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming devicecomprises a gaming table component.
 6. The system of claim 5, whereinthe request to access the first amount of funds associated with thefunding instrument comprises a request of a quantity of gaming tablechips corresponding to the second amount of funds.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the gaming establishment account comprises any of acashless wagering account and a gaming establishment retail account. 8.The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic transfer occurs inassociation with a communication of funding transfer complete event datato a component of a gaming establishment fund management system.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the first amount of funds is different fromthe second amount of funds.
 10. A system comprising: a processor; and amemory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to: responsive to anapproval of a request to access a first amount of funds from a firstexternal source associated with a first funding instrument prohibitedfrom being used to transfer funds directly to a credit balance of agaming device, execute an indirect transfer of a second amount of fundsto the credit balance of the gaming device, and responsive to anapproval of a request to access the first amount of funds from a secondexternal source associated with a second, different funding instrumentpermitted to be used to transfer funds directly to the credit balance ofthe gaming device, execute a direct transfer of the second amount offunds to the credit balance of the gaming device.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the first funding instrument comprises a credit cardand the second, different funding instrument comprises a debit card. 12.A method of operating a system, the method comprising: responsive to anapproval of a request to access a first amount of funds associated witha funding instrument prohibited from being used to transfer fundsdirectly to a credit balance of a gaming device: causing, by aprocessor, a modification of a gaming establishment account based on thefirst amount of funds, and thereafter, causing, by the processor, anautomatic transfer of a second amount of funds to the credit balance ofthe gaming device.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fundinginstrument comprises a credit card associated with an external fundingsource.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein data associated with therequest to access the first amount of funds associated with the fundinstrument is received from a mobile device executing a mobile deviceapplication.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the gaming devicecomprises a electronic gaming machine.
 16. The method of claim 12,wherein the gaming device comprises a gaming table component.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the request to access the first amount offunds associated with the funding instrument comprises a request of aquantity of gaming table chips corresponding to the second amount offunds.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the gaming establishmentaccount comprises any of a cashless wagering account and a gamingestablishment retail account.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein theautomatic transfer occurs in association with a communication of fundingtransfer complete event data to a component of a gaming establishmentfund management system.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein the firstamount of funds is different from the second amount of funds.